Viterbo – Back and forth on Facebook between Irene Temperini and the winner of the ideas competition promoted by the municipality for the 2024 edition of the traditional horticultural event
Viterbo – The Pro loco on the historic center: “A huge construction site, fountains all closed, cars, tall grass”. And the architect Raffaele Ascenzi is indignant and responds.
Back and forth on Facebook between Irene Temperini, president of the Pro loco, and the architect Raffaele Ascenzi who is curating the 2024 edition of San Pellegrino in fiore with the creation, in these very days, of the installations that Viterbo residents and visitors will be able to see at May.
The Pro Loco post on the historic center during the long weekend of April 25th
“We knew that the long weekend from 25 to 28 April our city would be sold out for weeks – writes the pro loco in a post on Facebook -. And it had been widely communicated, because on this bridge schools are closed everywhere. Here is a cross-section of what tourists see these days: a huge construction site in the historic center, fountains all closed, cars, tall grass. Only one question arising from the frustration of tourist operators who collect the comments of the hundreds of tourists visiting Viterbo these days: why?
And, to accompany the Pro Loco post, also some photos. Among these is a shot with the barriers for the displays in Piazza della Morte. Tall grass in the downtown streets. Cars looking for parking spaces. Barriers to delimit a collapse of the road pavement. Garbage and waste left along the streets. All this during the long weekend of April 25th, when many tourists choose to visit the capital of Tuscia.
The Pro Loco post on the historic center during the long weekend of April 25th
The architect Raffaele Ascenzi responded to the post. “The inauguration day of San Pellegrino in fiore, if I remember correctly, has always been May 1st, despite the proximity to the Liberation Day of April 25th… (Bridge or no bridge) therefore I approve the decision not to bring forward the date of the inauguration – writes the architect -.Given the complexity of the installations, the start of the works could not be postponed even by one day and for this reason we apologize for the inconvenience caused to residents and traders. I thank the nurserymen and their good collaborators who are showing great passion to achieve the goal by carrying on the work even during the holidays”.
“I saw a lot of curiosity in the tourists and also in the people of Viterbo who in large numbers observed the geometries proposed in the exhibition… I, due to professional deformation (or retirement age), love construction sites and the vitality that they produce – concludes Ascenzi in his post -.The anniversary of April 25th was certainly a good opportunity to see our industriousness and encourage visitors to come back and see the result of the project”.
Back and forth on Facebook between the president of the Pro loco Irene Temperini and the architect Raffaele Ascenzi
The architect concludes the comment by addressing the president of the Pro loco: “Generally I don’t respond to provocations or comments on Facebook, but given the great respect I have for you Irene Temperini, and also given the photo of your previous post which I portrays himself in a cage in the act of explaining to your guests the medieval iconographic references of the project, I couldn’t help myself”.
Ascenzi’s reference to a previous post, also by the pro loco, on tourists around the city on April 25th. Also attached to the social content is a photo with Raffaele Ascenzi inside an installation construction site.
But the social back-and-forth doesn’t stop. And here the president of the Pro loco responds to Ascenzi’s comment.
“Dear friend, the displays are one thing, everything else is another – writes Temperini -. The closed fountains, rubbish and cars everywhere, potholes and a pervasive sense of desolation. For our part, we have to justify everything to the tourists who ask why such a beautiful city is kept like this… there is a sense of frustration and also anger. Settings are one thing, neglect is another. As you know, I always try and try to involve those who move this city, like you, in learning about the city. Never confuse the two things. You don’t know the responsibility for the situation the city finds itself in. And remember. Administrations pass but human relationships, esteem, friendship is what we do remains.”
Back and forth on Facebook between the president of the Pro loco Irene Temperini and the architect Raffaele Ascenzi
The president of the Pro loco therefore clarifies that the reference is not to the preparations for the traditional horticultural event, but to the neglect of the historic center of the capital of Tuscia.
But Ascenzi intervenes again and specifies: “One of our construction sites appears among your photos, so I took the liberty of intervening in your post. In addition to the necessary clarification regarding the date of May 1st… Or this year do you want to move September 3rd too since it happens on a Tuesday??? (Always with a smile)
Words to which Temperini replies. “These words (albeit jokingly) make me understand that we just can’t separate. But that’s okay.”
April 27, 2024
