by InTrieste
In March, visitors to Trieste will have a rare opportunity to step inside two of the most emblematic industrial landmarks of the city’s waterfront redevelopment project.
On Wednesdays — March 4, 11, 18 and 25 — the Trieste section of Italia Nostra will offer free guided tours of the former electrical substation and the Hydrodynamic Power Plant in Porto Vecchio, the vast waterfront district now known as Porto Vivo. The initiative is part of an agreement between the City of Trieste and the heritage organization aimed at promoting public awareness of the area’s cultural and industrial patrimony.
The tours, which last approximately 90 minutes, begin at 9:30 a.m., with participants asked to gather at 9:15 a.m. in front of the Electrical Substation on viale Miramare. Once closed to the public, the two buildings stand as reminders of Trieste’s pivotal role as a major port of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and, later, as a strategic maritime hub in the northern Adriatic.
The Hydrodynamic Power Plant, built in the late 19th century, once generated and distributed hydraulic energy throughout the port, powering cranes, elevators and other heavy machinery essential to dock operations. Nearby, the Electrical Substation reflects a later phase of technological modernization, when electric power gradually replaced earlier hydraulic systems. Together, the structures illustrate the evolution of industrial infrastructure that underpinned the port’s commercial success.
In recent years, Porto Vecchio — a 66-hectare complex of historic warehouses and port facilities stretching along the waterfront — has become central to Trieste’s urban regeneration plans. City officials have promoted the area as a future cultural and innovation district, balancing redevelopment with preservation of its architectural identity.
Participation in the March tours is free of charge, but reservations are required at least five days in advance by contacting Italia Nostra via email. The organization is also available to arrange guided visits for groups of at least five people on alternative dates and times, subject to volunteer availability and with the same advance booking requirements.
For residents and visitors alike, the initiative offers a closer look at the engineering heritage that shaped Trieste’s rise as a port city — and at the ongoing effort to reimagine that legacy for a new generation.
