PADUA – Until ten years ago, passing through Capitaniato squareyou could listen to it from a kiosk Opera. It was the kiosk of Luigi “Gigi” Rossi, who repaired glasses and fountain pens at a good price. A true institution for over sixty years. From the 2016 the kiosk is closed, but soon the Bo will give it new life. In fact, it will soon be replaced with an identical but new structure and will become a noticeboard open to citizens, where the most recent research by the University departments who live in the square.
THE MEMORY THAT LIVES
But for the people of Padua that will always remain Mr. Rossi’s kiosk. After almost seventy years of activity, eight years ago Luigi decided to retire at the age of 91. He died a few months later, leaving a great void in the city: for everyone he was a sort of eyewear architect, capable of bringing frames and lenses of all shapes back to life. When he passed away in December 2016, some loyal customers stuck a note on the shutter: “Thank you for showing us the way in a better way.” Luigi was the mirror of a Piazza Capitaniato of other times: when “soto el scavessà” (where remnants were sold, ed.) the artisans swarmed. From his kiosk he sang the lyrical songs “Ave Maria” and “Panis Angelicus”, the its flagships, while university students flocked to get their pens and glasses repaired, often for a few euros. Since Gigi decided to take them down forever, the shutters of the kiosk have remained closed shortly space full of memories.
THE PROJECT
It will keep it open for twenty years thanks to an agreement with Palazzo Moroni, to which it belongs. The project bears the signature of the Fisppa Department. «When I hung out in the square as a student I remember the open kiosk, we are happy to be able to give it back to the community – says the director of Fisppa, Egidio Robusto -. My Department, together with that of Cultural Heritage and Engineering, presented a project to redevelop the kiosk to transform it into a showcase of the scientific activities we carry out every day. It will be a meeting point for the population where scientific dissemination will take place. We want it to always remain open to be able to interact with citizens who want to find out about the research activities of our Departments.” 60 thousand euros will be allocated to replace the kiosk, now rusty and in poor condition, with an identical structure. The Municipality will make a contribution of 20 thousand euros for user costs, as it will help redevelop the square. Here a small corner of Padua will be returned to the community.
Gigi’s daughter, Francesca Rossi, who manages the optical shop in via Dante, a few steps from the square, expresses satisfaction. «My dream is that the kiosk will be used again by some artisans, but even just seeing it open will be a satisfaction. For all the people of Padua, Gigi’s kiosk remains.”
