by Maximiliano Crocamo
Interviews: Trieste mayor, Roberto Dipiazza; Antonio Poggiana, Director of the Asugi; Nerina candotti, artist and creator of the Mural
On Nov. 26, 2025, the Ospedale Maggiore in Trieste unveiled a new mural titled “Abbiamo un sogno” (“We Have a Dream”), an artwork designed to bring comfort to patients undergoing radiotherapy.
The large-scale piece was commissioned by the Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Giuliana Isontina, or ASUGI, as part of a broader effort to make clinical environments more welcoming. Hospital officials described the mural as an initiative that “unites art, care and humanity,” noting that it was conceived to support the emotional well-being of individuals navigating cancer treatment.
While the project is included among ASUGI’s measures to enhance patient experience, it does not represent a new policy or administrative change. Instead, it is part of a growing trend in Italian healthcare facilities to incorporate visual art into treatment spaces — a practice research suggests can help reduce anxiety and improve overall patient satisfaction.
The mural now occupies one of the main areas of the hospital’s radiation oncology department, where staff hope it will offer a moment of calm to those arriving for therapy. Officials said the initiative reflects Trieste’s long-standing attention to the human dimension of public health, as well as the city’s broader engagement with community-centered art.
