Salone degli Incanti

The Salone degli Incanti is the result of the conversion of Trieste's main fish market into an exhibition space.

The structure almost resembles a church due to its imposing size and internal division into three majestic arcades, so much so that the people of Trieste dubbed it ‘Santa Maria del Guato’ in honour of the typical local fish that inhabits the gulf. The building has been converted into a space for modern and contemporary art overlooking the sea, known as Salone degli Incanti. Under the bell tower, which originally served as a seawater reservoir for the fishmonger's shop, is now the town's small aquarium, which can be visited.

Trivia: the former fish market in Trieste was used by Francis Ford Coppola in 1974 to film the scene of Don Vito Corleone’s arrival at Ellis Island in New York in the film The Godfather.