The former CEO and president of Google, Eric Schmidt, donated one million euros for the restoration of the Garisenda, one of the two towers of Bologna. This is the largest amount that the municipality of Bologna has collected so far. In fact, from last December until today, numerous entrepreneurs, together with banks and institutions, […]
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The former CEO and president of Google, Eric Schmidtdonated one million euros for the restoration of the Garisenda, one of the two towers of Bologna. This is the largest amount that the municipality of Bologna has collected so far. In fact, since last December until today, numerous entrepreneurs, together with banks and institutions, have mobilized to support the city in saving the monument to risk of collapse and for which a fundraiser has been activated.
The news was revealed by Rest of the Pug and then confirmed by Municipality of Bologna. Schmidt he was CEO of Google from 2001 to 2011 and then executive president from 2011 to 2015. What ties him to Bologna is his childhood, as a child he lived in the Emilian capital with his family: “I feel a deep connection with this city”, declared the entrepreneur. “It has profoundly influenced me, both personally and professionally. Bologna played a fundamental role in allowing me to achieve the results I achieved. I lived here as a child and I fondly remember playing in Piazza Nettuno, a stone’s throw from the Two Towers”. For this reason, “it is imperative that this symbol of Bologna is restored to its former splendor and can be visited again safely”.
Schmidt returned to Bologna in 2021, when he was awarded the Honorary degree cause by the Department of Business Sciences, in recognition of the role it has had in numerous sectors. On the occasion of that event he stated: “Bologna and Italy represent a city and a country that possess qualities comparable to the most advanced industrial models, including that of the United States. The future of Italy lies in entrepreneurship: here innovation is not confined to a specific place, but is fueled by its people.”
This latest donation follows that of 3 million euros in favor of Bologna Business School: “We are grateful to Eric Schmidt and his Foundation for this generous demonstration of affection towards our city and of trust in the ability to safeguard our most important symbol: the two Towers of Bologna and in particular the Garisenda tower”, declared the mayor of Bologna Matteo Lepore. “Our city is receiving international attention, we must be proud and aware of it,” she added.
For months the municipality of Bologna has been promoting a campaign to collect contributions for the restoration of the Garisenda tower and the maintenance of the Asinelli tower and to promote the use of the Art Bonus, the tax credit that encourages donations to support the culture. By using the bonus, the donor can actually get back 65% of the amount in the three years following the donation. For the works on the tower we will still have to wait: at the moment the Municipality commissioned three experts, two of whom worked on the restoration of the Tower of Pisa, to develop a project proposal for the restoration of the property. The project will be ready by the summer, but at the moment the estimate is around 20 million euros in view of works that will last for at least ten years.
