by InTrieste
A new chapter is beginning for Trieste’s beloved Barcola waterfront. On Monday, regional officials announced the start of construction work aimed at transforming the Porticciolo di Barcola — a small harbor long used for boat storage and maintenance — into a public space that blends environmental sustainability with urban livability.
“With the handover of the construction site today, we’re opening a new phase for Barcola,” said Cristina Amirante, Friuli Venezia Giulia’s Regional Councillor for Infrastructure. “We’re returning to citizens and visitors a stretch of coastline that has historically been important, making it an open, inclusive, safe space, fully integrated into the urban fabric of Trieste. It’s a concrete step toward a region that values its relationship with the sea, the quality of public spaces, and environmental sustainability.”
The redevelopment project, valued at €320,000, is scheduled for completion in early 2026.
At the core of the plan is the conversion of the port area into a space accessible to the public, in agreement with the Capitaneria di Porto (Harbor Master’s Office). The new surface will be paved with a permeable mixture of cement and local limestone, chosen for both its durability and its connection to the karst landscape that characterizes the Trieste area.
Design elements will highlight Barcola’s coastal identity while improving functionality. The area will feature two tones of paving — light gray, echoing the sandstone of the pier, and darker gray, connecting with the nearby parking area — to enhance visual coherence. A new lighting system will include eight modular, five-meter-high lamp posts capable of creating scenic effects during major public events such as the Barcolana regatta.
Public amenities will include 20 prefabricated concrete benches, designed to accommodate up to 40 small recreational gangways, and 15 newly planted holm oaks (lecci) to provide shade and greenery.
“This project will serve as a catalyst for a new era along Barcola’s waterfront,” Amirante added. “It will be more welcoming, greener, and more livable — a space that enhances the beauty of Trieste and its enduring connection to the sea.”
