by Nina Vaclavikova
Interview: Enrico Samer, President of Trieste Campus
The second phase of the Trieste Campus redevelopment project was officially inaugurated on Wednesday, marking a significant step in the expansion of the multi-purpose sports and educational center in the city’s San Giovanni district.
The ceremony was attended by Everest Bertoli, Trieste’s municipal councilor for financial policies, and featured a friendly basketball tournament inside the newly renovated gymnasium. The event brought together teams representing the Campus, local politicians and journalists.
Work on the second phase began in February 2025 and involved an investment of approximately €2.7 million. Funding included €1.2 million from the Municipality of Trieste and an additional €300,000 in public funds allocated for repairs to the building’s roof.
The project included the complete renovation of the indoor multi-purpose sports hall, along with locker rooms and a 190-seat spectator stand. New facilities include administrative offices, a sports equipment shop, two additional changing rooms and a “Wall of Fame” showcasing the history and activities of the Campus. Improvements were also made to the surrounding public infrastructure, including the reconstruction of a section of sidewalk along Via Locchi.
The facilities are already operational, but one final element remains: the installation of a rooftop photovoltaic system. Once completed, the solar panels are expected to generate approximately 120,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, covering about 80 percent of the Campus’s energy needs and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 48 metric tons each year.
“Trieste Campus is a concrete example of how public and private partners can work together effectively,” Mr. Bertoli said during the inauguration. He noted that the municipality’s overall contribution to the project now totals approximately €1.5 million.
For Enrico Samer, president of Trieste Campus, the opening represents the culmination of a vision first developed in 2018.
“The second phase allows us to view the project as a unified whole,” Mr. Samer said. “What began as an idea several years ago has evolved into a community that brings together athletes, families, children and young people through sport, music and educational activities.”
According to Campus officials, total investment in the complex now exceeds €9 million. The redevelopment of the main building at Via Locchi 25 accounted for approximately €7.5 million through a combination of public and private funding.
In addition to the sports facilities, Trieste Campus has expanded into a neighboring property on Via Locchi 21, adding more than 1,000 square meters of space dedicated to music education, foreign-language courses, study-abroad programs and after-school activities. Further renovations are planned, including a connection to a nearby municipal garden that will provide additional recreational space and improve access between the various facilities.
The expansion has also attracted new partner organizations. Alongside established associations such as Pallanuoto Trieste, Fiamma Karate, San Giusto Scherma and Triestina Nuoto, several new groups have joined the Campus network, including BaskeTrieste, Venjulia Rugby and the Samer Sporting Club.
Campus officials say participation has grown steadily. More than 1,400 families are currently involved in activities hosted at the center, while the broader network of users is estimated at around 4,000 families. Summer programs, which began earlier this week, are expected to attract more than 1,300 children over the course of the season.
The opening of the second phase strengthens Trieste Campus’s role as a hub for sports, education and community activities, reflecting a broader effort to combine public investment with private initiative in the development of local recreational infrastructure.
