The Rome Vittorio Emanuele metro A station was reopened today, Monday 1st July, after almost three months of work. This was the first intervention of this type that, in the coming months, will concern all the underground stations of the Capital.
Vittorio Emanuele station reopens
The ban on users of the Vittorio Emanuele station was necessary because it was necessary to proceed with extraordinary maintenance of all four escalators present. Keeping the station open, without functioning transfer systems, was impossible. Hence the decision of the Campidoglio to close until the end of the work, which was concluded according to the announced schedule. The opportunity was also used for general maintenance of the structure.
The station becomes a work of art
To celebrate the reopening of the station, the South Tyrolean artist Esther Stocker transformed the large concourse of the metro with the site-specific work “Common Perspective” (2024). Over 8000 meters of black adhesive tape, on a white background, cover the walls, ceiling, pillars and access devices according to a dense system of orthogonal lines and a series of geometric elements anchored to the ceiling and arranged on the ground along the side naves of this metropolitan cathedral they intercept the gaze of passers-by.
The initiative is the result of the collaboration between the MAXXI National Museum of 21st Century Arts and Atac on the occasion of the reopening of the station, at the end of the special early overhaul of the transfer systems, as part of the major exhibition Environments 1956 – 2010. Environments by women artists II – curated by Andrea Lissoni, Marina Pugliese, Francesco Stocchi – scheduled at MAXXI until 20 October 2024.
“We are very happy with this collaboration with Atac, which allows us to bring 21st century art to the heart of the city, in contact with thousands of Romans and tourists – said Alessandro Giuli, president of the MAXXI Foundation, in a note – Ambienti is an exhibition that we particularly care about, because it represents a manifesto of how we imagine the MAXXI of the future, for the undisputed quality of the artistic research from which it moves and because the public has rewarded us with enthusiasm, making it the most visited MAXXI exhibition ever with over 50 thousand visitors in the first two months of opening. It is also very pleasing that more and more institutions and companies, like ATAC in this case, are choosing MAXXI as a partner for innovative projects in the name of art”.
“I would like to thank the MAXXI Foundation for the important support that has allowed us to use these days of closure of the station, necessary to carry out indispensable and unpostponable interventions, to prepare an art show that makes the Metro station more attractive – said Alberto Zorzan, general manager of Atac – this collaboration continues the path we have undertaken to make public transport locations collectors of positive stimuli, using the language of high culture. Bringing art into the world of public transport is an intelligent way, in fact, to enrich, by expanding it, the travel experience”.
“We thank MAXXI and Atac for this praiseworthy initiative that has allowed us to redevelop the Vittorio Emanuele Metro A station – said the councilor for mobility, Eugenio Patanè – the work of the artist Esther Stocker, a show that allows us to make the metro station more attractive, is part of an overall project of redevelopment of the stops that we are carrying forward together with Atac and the Municipalities involved which has already involved, among others, the stations of Santa Maria del Soccorso, Torre Maura, Pietralata, Marconi, Conca d’Oro and Garbatella”.
When other stations close
Vittorio Emanuele was the first station on line A to close. From July 15th to October 3rd it will be Spagna’s turn. In this case the transfer systems have nothing to do with it. The station will completely change its look, thanks to the project financing between Igp Decaux and the Municipality of Rome. Then, from July 22nd to September 9th it will be Ottaviano’s turn and by the end of 2026 there should be 27 completely renovated stations.
