Italia Nostra writes to Franceschini: Florence stadium cannot be demolished or tampered with

Italia Nostra has written a letter to Cultural Heritage Minister Dario Franceschini and the MiBACT’s General Directorate of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape reiterating its concern about the serious effects that Article 55-bis of the “Simplification” decree law (No. 76 of 2020) is having on the ministry’s protection action on the “Artemio Franchi” stadium in Florence. This is the article, strongly desired by Senator Matteo Renzi of Italia Viva, approved this summer and known as “sbloccastadi”: the article provides that anyone who wants to modernize a sports facility intended for professional competitions can carry out the interventions in derogation of any cultural constraints on the asset.

The measure caused quite a stir because it seemed to many to be cut specifically for the Franchi stadium in Florence, which Italian-American businessman Rocco Commisso, patron of Fiorentina (he is president of the soccer team as well as founder, president and CEO of the company, Mediacom, that owns it), would like to entirely rebuild, with a 250 million euro investment. The new stadium, a study commissioned by Fiorentina from Deloitte has estimated, is expected to generate 1,050 jobs and create an economic impact of 5 billion, not least because the new stadium is expected to accommodate several commercial activities. At the moment, the situation is in flux: MiBACT could rule against Commisso’s project, but the ownership is ready to challenge any ruling by appealing to the Tar.

The Franchi stadium is a historic facility, designed by Alessandro Giuntoli, Pier Luigi Nervi and Gioacchino Luigi Mellucci, was inaugurated in 1930 and is considered a model of Italian rationalism. At the moment, the structure is degraded and would need restoration work, which can make the Franchi an adequate facility for the needs of the fans.This is the line that committees and intellectuals are taking in defense of the Florence stadium.

“The elements of the stadium to be preserved in situ,” Italia Nostra points out in a note, “are described in detail in the Decree of Restriction of the complex issued in May of this year by the peripheral bodies of the Ministry (Regional Secretariat of Tuscany and Superintendence of Florence). Among other things, the documents of the constraint decree take due account of the current conditions of the stadium and the various problems indicated by the same technical offices of the City of Florence. To date, it does not appear that the Municipal Administration itself has promoted actions aimed at the removal of this constraint and, therefore, it is clear that the replacements or demolitions to the sports complex can only concern the additions made to the facility on the occasion of the 1990 World Championships, in compliance with the precise and punctual prescriptions indicated by the Superintendence.” In short, according to Italia Nostra, the Franchi cannot be demolished or tampered with.

Italia Nostra therefore hopes that the ministry, through its central deputy body, will respond to the proposals to demolish part of the historic structures of the Franche Stadium and “reconfirm the reasons for protection,” the association concludes, “according to the dictate of Article 9 of the Constitution.”

Photo: the Florence stadium. Ph. Credit Francesco Bini

Italia Nostra writes to Franceschini: Florence stadium cannot be demolished or tampered with

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