by Guisela Chiarella
Along the Barcola promenade, the constant rumble of trucks and the activity of workers signal an extensive restoration in progress. Following the storm last November, the city of Trieste has embarked on a project to revive this coastal stretch.
The paving stones have been restored, the pine forest tidied, and the play areas completely renovated, with support from the CR Trieste foundation. The promenade is scheduled to be fully restored by September.
“I personally insisted on restoring everything as it was before,” said Michele Babuder, Trieste’s Councillor for Territorial Policies. “It would have been easier and quicker to put in temporary concrete and then reopen the construction site at the end of the summer, but we wanted to maintain the promenade’s original charm.”
The restoration includes replenishing the cliff with large rocks to protect the promenade from future storms. This phase of the project is set for completion between September and October, “perhaps before the Barcolana,” a famous sailing regatta, Mr. Babuder noted. The regional government will determine additional protective structures to mitigate damage from future storms of similar intensity.
In an interview, Councillor Babuder provided a detailed overview of the latest developments in Barcola.
In the area known as the “topolini,” significant progress has been made. The initial and final topolini have reopened after interventions on terrace slabs, railing repairs, and static checks. These works were expedited by emergency funds from the municipality ahead of the arrival of regional funds.
The three central topolini will remain inaccessible throughout the summer, with temporary chemical toilets installed in the vicinity to accommodate visitors.
