by InTrieste
Work has resumed on the restoration of the coastal defense structures along Trieste’s Barcola waterfront, one of the city’s most frequented seaside areas. The project, valued at €2 million, focuses on rebuilding the rocky barriers that protect the shoreline, particularly in the stretch near the historic Topolini bath facilities and the Saturnia rowing club.
Regional Environmental Councillor Fabio Scoccimarro described the effort as a necessary measure to preserve both the stability of the coastline and the historic character of one of Trieste’s most iconic recreational sites.
“With this intervention, we are restoring safety and stability to a symbolic part of the city, preserving the Barcola coast and its longstanding role as a bathing area,” Scoccimarro said. He emphasized that the work is restorative rather than new construction, intended to reinforce the shoreline while maintaining the identity and memory of the location.
The project had been paused during the summer due to the early start of the bathing season. To ensure the work could proceed, the regional government temporarily assumed authority normally held by the City of Trieste regarding coastal protection works.
More than 7,500 cubic meters of rock — roughly 19,000 tons — will be repositioned as part of the restoration. The stones are currently stockpiled at Molo 0 in Porto Vecchio and will be moved by barge equipped with mechanical arms to various sections of the waterfront. Approximately 10,000 tons will be used between the first and sixth Topolini platforms, with an additional 9,000 tons placed in other coastal defense points, including areas near diving platforms, the rowing pier, and the outer breakwater. Some individual boulders exceed 10 tons.
The work forms part of the Co.RE. (Resilient Coasts) program, which aims to enhance shoreline resilience, and the materials used are intended to be repurposed in future coastal planning.
The project is expected to take eight months, with the goal of reopening the area to swimmers by next spring.
