On Monday, February 12, 2024, the construction site related to the investment opened "The redevelopment of the Square of the Transalpina/Trg Evrope and the Tridente - in the Municipality of Nova Gorica (Slovenia) and the Municipality of Gorica (Italy)", which is one of the most important interventions within the so-called ECOC District, which will be the main site of the European Capital of Culture 2025 Nova Gorica-Gorizia.

The investment includes the renovation of the Transalpina Square/Trg Evrope and part of the so-called Fabiani Trident (Caprin, Foscolo and Luzzato streets) on the Italian side. The main contractor for the work is Italian construction company ICI COOP. The total contract value for the works is almost EUR 2.9 million (precisely EUR 2,835,259.91, including EUR 2,191,967.03 for the renovation of Piazza Transalpina and EUR 643,292.88 for the renovation of Fabiani Trident on the Italian side, all amounts include VAT).

This is a cross-border investment for which - thanks to the constructive cooperation of the two municipalities, the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia and the Republic of Slovenia - EGTC GO has obtained EU funding under the FVG Regional Operational Program (ROP ERDF 2021-2027) as a "Europe 27 Program" and the Slovenian National Operational Program (OP 2021-2027). The renovation of Transalpina Square/ Trg Evrope is recognized as a strategic project in both programming documents. This item provides funding for design, supervision and other technical services and, of course, for the execution of the works.

The cross-border Transalpina Square/Trg Evrope is the symbol of the European Capital of Culture 2025 Nova Gorica - Gorica and is a true emblem of the European spirit, a space divided by the border and physical barriers for decades, has once again become a shared space. Now, thanks to the mentioned investments, the square will become more welcoming and attractive,while preserving the present historical elements.

The construction site is scheduled to be closed by the end of the year.

As already highlighted on several public occasions addressed to the citizens of the two cities, EGTC GO is in constant dialogue with the relevant authorities to coordinate this intervention with the other construction sites affecting the area. A special section will soon be created on the EGTC website also to facilitate communication to all interested people.

For the renovation of Tranaslpina Square/Trg Evrope and the Trident, 1,416,405.18 euros are available under the 2021-2027 ERDF ROP and the remaining 1,418,854.73 euros under the 2021-2027 ERDF NOP (part of these funds are provided by the Municipality of Nova Gorica), while the renovation of the Fabiani Trident will be fully financed by the 2021-2027 ERDF ROP.

Short description of the investment  

The renovation of the Transalpina Square/Trg Evrope takes the form of a multifaceted project, which has gone through several stages and processes, from the secure acquisition of funding, to the careful preparation of the design documentation, to the selection of the contractor for the construction, to the actual implementation of the work. 

In the spring, the tender process for the preparation of the project documentation for construction, site management and safety coordination was concluded, and a group of Italian-Slovenian experts was selected as the project team, consisting of: Architectural firm Ravnikar Potokar d. o.o. (Ljubljana), Edil Inženiring d.o.o. (Nova Gorica), D:RH Architetti Associati (Venice), SA architetti assiciati, (Venice), Sertec Engineering (Loranzè, TO), Detajl Infrastruktura d.o.o. (Vipava), PINSS d.o.o., (Nova Gorica), Erdado d.o.o. (Ajdovščina), Lozej d.o.o. (Ajdovščina). 

Some of the most important points of the new look of the Transalpina Square/Trg Evrope and the extension of the Fabiani trident are the greening of the square with more than 20 new trees, a water mirror, and the preservation of the mosaic in the center of the square. In addition to the renovation of the square, the overall intervention also includes new uniform paving of Caprin, Luzzato and Foscolo streets, as well as the part of Kolodvorska Street between the square and the train station.