History Entry On Trieste - The Tram of Opicina, one of the few Trams in Europe

The tram of Opicina could probably be considered the symbol of Trieste. Trieste's tramway is an old trasportation system that "connects" the city center to the Carso, a region right above the city. The tram's first "trip" took place on the 9th of September 1902. This means the tram is 105 years old! Ever since 1902 , the tram has been used by tourists as well as "Triestini" to move around. But why do so many people use the Tram to move around? Well, during the trip, beautiful views of Trieste and its gulf can be seen and, it is well connected with almost every part of the city. The tram has changed a lot during his life... First it was open and has no windows so the driver was exposed to all types of weather. When it rained he wore a raincoat to cover him and the controls... Then, in 1908 the windows were added. The tram was also modified in terms of lenght , it was made longer right before the adding of the windows.

The tram has had many accidents during the course of it's life... For example, the 10th of October 1902, just 1 month after the"opening", at approximately 7 AM, the Tram of Opicina "fell" down Scorcola and crashed into a house, destorying it completly. Fortunally, the 4 people were aboard were able to jump off the veichle and save themselves. However, Antonio Sossich , the driver, remained stuck and broke one of his legs. A very famous song was written about that day: "El Tram de Opcina". This song is considered the most famous and important of Trieste's songs and, just like the Tram itself, it symbolizes Trieste. Every single triestino knows at least a small part of the song by heart, and most of the old people know every single word!!!!

For other information on the tram visit this site:

http://www.tuttotrieste.net/varie/tram/tram.htm

EL TRAM DE OPCINA lyrics

E anche el tram de Opcina xe nato disgrazià
vignindo zò per Scorcola una casa'l ga ribaltà
Bona de Dio che jera giorno de lavor
che dentro no ghe jera che'l povero frenador

E come la bora che vien e che va
i disi che'l mondo se ga ribaltà
E come la bora che vien e che va
i disi che'l mondo se ga ribaltà

Co'l due se va a Servola, co'l quatro in Arsenal
col sie se va a Barcola, col zinque in Ospedal
con l'uno in zimitero, co'l sete a la staziòn
co'l nove in manicomio, co'l diese in canòn

E come la bora che vien e che va
i disi che'l mondo se ga ribaltà
E come la bora che vien e che va
i disi che'l mondo se ga ribaltà

E anche ste mulete tute mate pe'l capèl
le zerca de acompagnarse a quelche bel putèl
ma co i riva a casa se senti un gran bordèl
e pare, mare e fia copa simisi co'l martèl

E come la bora che vien e che va
i disi che'l mondo se ga ribaltà
E come la bora che vien e che va
i disi che'l mondo se ga ribaltà

L'Italia ga pan bianco, la Francia ga bon vin
Trieste ga putele tute piene de morbìn
Carbòn ga l'Inghiltera, la Russia ga cavial
e l'Austria ga capuzi che no se pol magnar

E come la bora che vien e che va
i disi che'l mondo se ga ribaltà
E come la bora che vien e che va
i disi che'l mondo se ga ribaltà

E anche ste mulete xe nate carigade
le tira zo le cotole per meterse le braghe
le fuma come cogome, le legi el Grand Hotel
e pare, mare e fia copa simisi co'l martèl