by InTrieste
Renovation work has begun on Trieste’s Topolini, the small seaside terraces that were damaged by storm surges in late 2023. The project aims to restore access from the fourth to the seventh Topolino, which remained closed last summer.
The work, entrusted to Udine-based construction firm Itec di Mattarolo Srl, will take approximately seven months. Part of the project is expected to be completed before summer, with the remainder finished by the end of the season.
“We have urged the company to work consistently,” said Public Works Councillor Elisa Lodi. “The administration wants the Topolini to be fully accessible by summer.”
The renovations focus on the most severely damaged sections, starting with sewer system repairs, followed by pier reconstruction. The first areas under renovation are Topolini 4 and 5, which will be the first to reopen.
Honoring Trieste’s Figures
Several Topolini are dedicated to notable figures, including Martin Jevnikar, Fulvio Varljen, Cesare Maldini, and Ottavio Missoni. Each bears a plaque with the name of the honoree, and informational signs provide context for visitors.
The names were selected through a 2021 public survey organized by the municipality. Citizens voted via an online platform, the website of Il Piccolo, and a local Facebook group. The chosen names include Fulvio Varljen, Margherita Hack, Cesare Maldini, Sandro Chersi, and Ottavio Missoni, along with others selected through different channels.
The dedication ceremony took place in summer 2022, but many plaques were lost in the 2023 storm. Volunteers from Altritalia Ambiente later recovered three of them—those honoring Margherita Hack, Fulvio Varljen, and Cesare Maldini— which will be reinstalled upon project completion.
Restoration Efforts
Recent adjustments to the seafront include a narrowed roadway to accommodate construction. The project involves demolishing the piers and reinforcing the changing rooms’ structure with steel-fiber reinforcement. New steel doors will replace those lost in the storm, and new ladders and railings will be installed.
Several sections, including Topolini 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, and 10, along with the Cedas facility, were restored ahead of last summer. The Barcola Pinewood and promenade have also been rehabilitated.
If the timeline holds, the Barcola waterfront will be fully accessible and renewed by the end of summer.
