Venice, €1 billion in damage. Franceschini urges people to donate with sms for the city at 45500

It is around 1 billion euros, according to Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro, the first estimate of the total damage caused by the exceptional high water that hit the city on the night of Nov. 12-13 and is still struggling to recede. The damage affects everyone: private homes, businesses, cultural institutions, churches, museums. As far as cultural heritage is concerned, the Superintendent of Venice, Emanuela Carpani, has estimated, for the ecclesiastical heritage alone, about 60 thousand euros of damage per church (for a total that exceeds three and a half million euros, considering that sixty churches went underwater). The first interventions will involve cleaning, desalinization and securing.

However, we are still in the emergency phase: once the urgency is over, MiBAC will be able to prepare more precise estimates of the sums that will have to be allocated for restoration and maintenance. Marbles, mosaics, structures ended up under the tidal wave: there is a lot of work to be done, also because sea water, with salt, risks causing permanent damage that can be felt even years later, threatening the structure of the buildings. As far as churches are concerned, the minister of cultural heritage, Dario Franceschini, let it be known that an amendment has been presented to extend the art bonus, the tax incentive for those who donate for the restoration of cultural heritage, to all of Venice’s ecclesiastical heritage as well. “There are so many churches that have been damaged and invaded by water,” Franceschini said. “In Parliament I hope that all the political forces will converge on this proposal, which must not have political color.”

The damage to cultural property is enormous, the minister noted. “I am here for operational things, not to make passerelles,” he stressed during his visit to Venice. “You have to understand the enormous damage to cultural heritage, in person you understand the real disaster. We need a huge commitment of the state and the entire Italian community to support Venice, not only because it is a symbol but because the lives of thousands of people and businesses are damaged here. It is a commitment that started with the first emergency measures, but it must continue in a structural way over time.” Blue cultural helmets have also arrived in Venice and the first emergency measures have started, but here, Franceschini continued, “there is a huge problem that goes from the completion of the Mose to interventions to compensate all the businesses and private activities that are damaged. I have entered several flooded stores despite the barriers. I would like the Italian and international community to realize this all the way through.”

For the first emergencies, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced the allocation of 20 million euros. There will be compensation for individuals and businesses up to a limit of €5,000 for the former and €20,000 for the latter. This is money that “can come immediately,” the premier said. But Franceschini is aware that “much more will have to be done. What man can do to control the phenomena of nature must be done in every way. There is a problem of Mose, there is a problem of investment for the people who live and work here, of protection of a unique cultural heritage in the world.”

Finally, Minister Franceschini appealed to everyone to donate 2 euros to the city of Venice through solidarity text messages to the number 45500. “I spoke with the head of the Civil Defense Angelo Borrelli,” he said, “the number 45500 has already been activated to make donations via SMS for the recovery of the cultural heritage of Venice. The whole world loves this beautiful city, let it show it now.” The solidarity number is active until December 15. Through telephone operators who have joined the initiative promoted by the Civil Defense Department, it will be possible to donate two euros by sending a solidarity SMS or making a call from a landline to 45500. The funds collected will be transferred by the operators, without any mark-up, to the Civil Protection Department.

Venice, €1 billion in damage. Franceschini urges people to donate with sms for the city at 45500

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