by Guisela Chiarella
A proposed cable car project intended to bridge Trieste’s city center with the hills of Opicina has instead underscored a divide among its residents, stirring a passionate debate over environmental preservation, urban development, and the future of the historic Italian port city.
While Mayor Roberto Dipiazza secured new ministerial funding to replace European subsidies blocked by environmental regulations, citizen opposition remains vocal. Thousands gathered last week in Piazza Unità, the city’s central square, to protest the project, claiming it would disrupt the Bovedo forest and alter the character of Trieste’s landscape. In a city where natural preservation holds cultural significance, the project has become a flashpoint for citizens’ concerns over sustainable development.
The cable car, a €62 million project, encountered a setback in July when Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) declined funding on environmental grounds. According to the European Union, the project did not meet biodiversity standards, a decision driven by environmental impact assessments that questioned the project’s compatibility with protected areas. Trieste’s administration countered that it had already implemented compensatory measures and argued that the funding denial hinged on an overly strict interpretation of PNRR standards.
In response, city officials turned to Rome, where the Ministries of Infrastructure and Environment greenlit the project under a revised framework, bypassing European regulations. “The funds are there: the cable car will be built,” Mayor Dipiazza announced after the meeting, highlighting that this new domestic funding would relieve the project of procedural restrictions tied to the PNRR.
Yet, despite this victory for proponents, the project’s financial stability has done little to quell public opposition. William Starc, leader of the “No Cable Car” committee, has voiced the discontent of many who worry the development will damage the forest’s biodiversity and harm Trieste’s natural heritage. In a letter to Italian President Sergio Mattarella, he urged the government to “respect citizens’ voices” and reconsider the project’s impact.
The municipality contends that the cable car is a “strategic initiative” for Trieste, facilitating efficient travel while reducing congestion and pollution. Supporters also argue it will boost tourism, providing a scenic route for visitors. The mayor has argued that the cable car represents progress for a city grappling with modern infrastructure needs. “This will bring Trieste into the future,” Dipiazza stated, emphasizing the need for green urban transit solutions.
Nevertheless, for many Triestini, the Bovedo forest represents a natural landmark and a link to the city’s past, raising fears that the cable car could irrevocably alter the area’s character. Local studies by the University of Udine, which found “no significant harm” from the project, have done little to sway public sentiment. The protest turnout last week—double the number of a similar protest held two years ago—suggests that resistance is building.
As Trieste prepares for this new addition to its skyline, the cable car has become a defining issue for the city. Supporters see it as a visionary project, an emblem of progress in a city steeped in history, while critics argue it is an overreach that endangers Trieste’s natural landscape. Far from a unifying force, the project has become a symbol of division, highlighting the complexities of balancing growth and preservation in a city where both hold deep meaning.
