by InTrieste
Interview: Cristina Amirante, the regional councilor for Infrastructure and Territory
In a bid to reinvent summer travel along its northeastern coast, Friuli Venezia Giulia has allocated €4.5 million (about $4.9 million) to expand seasonal ferry services linking some of its most scenic seaside and lagoon towns.
The move, announced Thursday by regional officials, will launch two experimental maritime routes for summer 2025: one connecting the historic port of Trieste to Monfalcone, and another between the popular beach destinations of Grado and Lignano Sabbiadoro. Both aim to ease traffic, boost tourism, and promote sustainable alternatives to car travel along the Adriatic coast.
“With the new fare structure for 2025, we’re steering decisively toward maritime transport as a key part of our regional mobility strategy,” said Cristina Amirante, the regional councillor for Infrastructure and Territory. “This coastline and lagoon are among our greatest assets, and the sea should be part of how we move.”
The newly approved funding will support not only passenger transport but also bicycle access on board—an increasingly popular feature that connects ferry travel to regional cycling routes, encouraging eco-tourism and lower-carbon commuting options.
“Investing in maritime links means investing in a modern, sustainable network that brings together the best of our region—from Trieste to Lignano, and from Monfalcone to Aquileia,” Amirante said. “It’s a bold step that meets the needs of locals, commuters, and visitors.”
Fares for the new routes will follow the pricing model of existing services, and the ferries are expected to operate during peak tourist months. The goal, Amirante said, is to create an integrated transport system where the sea plays a central role—not just as scenery, but as infrastructure.
The region’s push comes amid a wider European trend of revitalizing coastal transport to relieve road congestion, lower emissions, and provide scenic alternatives to overland travel. In Friuli Venezia Giulia, where culture, coastline, and ancient history converge, officials hope the ferries will do more than move people—they’ll also help tell the story of a place uniquely shaped by the water.
“Our vision is about mobility that connects, respects, and enhances,” Amirante said. “The sea isn’t just a barrier—it’s a bridge.”
