The 14th edition of Rose Libri Musica Vino, a festival sponsored by the University of Trieste and the social cooperative Agricola Monte San Pantaleone, continues on Friday, May 23, in the rose garden of San Giovanni Park in Trieste. This year's initiative investigates the theme of power. A power that cultivates harmony and beauty, that knows the imperfections and harshness of life but never stops giving it confidence. In short, a different kind of power, understood as a force that heals and cares, that listens, that is attentive to details, that breaks isolation and transcends boundaries.

The program will start at 3:30 p.m. with the Ornithological Walk led by naturalist Matteo Giraldi.

At 4:30 p.m., for the Rose Bimbi section, appointment with Born to Read (ages 0-6). A workshop and readings with flowers and roses will be offered.

At 5:15 p.m. Valentino Riva, a research fellow in Commodity Sciences at the University of Trieste, and Simonetta Lorigliola, a journalist and author, will discuss the theme “Roses between the rows: what has changed”: the rose, in fact, was chosen by the vintners of yesteryear for its ability to play the role of “spy plant,” that is, to indicate, by falling ill early, the looming of diseases harmful to the vine. Much has changed since then, and roses no longer provide the vintner with a kind of “predictive model” but have remained in the vineyards of sensitive vintners as a historical agricultural memory and also as an aesthetic element.

A central moment of the second day of the review (6 p.m.) will be the meeting with Prof. Mario Del Pero, who will dialogue with Prof. Elisabetta Vezzosi, professor of U.S. History at the University of Trieste. Moderating will be journalist Francesco De Filippo.

Mario Del Pero is professor of International History and History of U.S. Foreign Policy at SciencesPo, Paris. A columnist for the newspapers “Il Domani” and “Il Giornale di Brescia,” his commentaries have appeared in the “Washington Post,” the “Guardian,” “Le Monde,” “Le Figaro” and “The Hill,” among others. Two of his books will be released in fall 2025: "American Darkness. The United States of Donald Trump“ (Il Mulino) and ”In the Shadow of the Vatican. Texan Evangelical Missionaries in Cold War Italy" (Cambridge University Press).

The book at the center of the discussion between the two Americanists instead will be "Freedom and Empire. The United States and the World 1776-2016" (Laterza), a history of American freedom and the empire built to protect that freedom. A volume that will try to clarify what is happening to the United States after Donald Trump's return to the White House.

"Is the double twist - authoritarian domestically and neo-imperial internationally - irreversible? Or does the U.S. still have antibodies - political and institutional - to withstand the impact of the assault Donald Trump is bringing to their democracy?" These are the questions Del Pero will follow up on during the meeting.

It continues at 7 p.m. with the Rose Wine section. Winemaker Rok Ota from San Dorligo della Valle/Dolina will speak, who in dialogue with Simonetta Lorigliola will give voice to Breg, an ancient oenological riviera.

At 7:30 p.m. Matteo E. Basta, a folk musician and singer-songwriter who has made contamination his signature style, will take the stage.

In case of bad weather, the meetings will be held in the Lecture Hall of the University of Trieste at 21 Weiss Street (Building W, ground floor, entrance at the back of the Antarctica Museum).

On the days of the festival, it will be possible to have lunch and dinner at the Bar Restaurant “Il Posto delle Fragole,” which will also make the dishes on the menu available for take-out: reservations are recommended at 040 578777.

The book counter will be by the independent bookstore Minerva.