Near the settlement of San Giovanni di Duino (or San Giovanni al Timavo), a hamlet in the extended municipality of Duino-Aurisina (Trieste), are the Resurgences of the river Timavo. The river “resurges” in this space, circled by majestic cypresses, plantains and poplars, after 40km underground.
The Timavo river begins in Slovenia, near the slopes of mount Nevoso and after about 50km disappears into the caves of San Canziano (Škocjanske jame). Here, after a distance of 2.5 km and 25 waterfalls, it reappears in San Giovanni al Timavo. Speleologists can see it when tackling the caves in the Trebiciano abyss.
The area of the resurgence was an important site of worship in antiquity: the presence of a river bursting out of the earth fascinated and terrified the early populations here. They worshipped Hercules, Saturn, Spes Augusta, Libero Augusto and Temavus. Virgil mentioned the Timavo in the Aeneid, noting "nine mouths" (other historians/writers cite seven).
The first chapel was built in the IV century, with the advent of Christianity, which would later become the Basilica of San Giovanni in Tuba with a range of modifications.
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Email: filmcommission@promoturismo.fvg.it
