Exhibitions and events at the former Cavallerizza di Lucca in the sights of the Tuscany Region which pull the ears of the Municipality, inviting him to “avoid hosting new initiatives” and conclude the work, according to the purposes of the program agreement. While the exhibition conceived by Vittorio Sgarbi which also features works by Canova as protagonists has been taking place in the structure for some time now, the peremptory call to Palazzo Orsetti comes from the regional councilor for productive activities and tourism, Leonardo Marras who responded in the chamber to the question presented last week by the PD councilor, Valentina Mercanti. For its part, the Municipality requested an exemption for 2025 and 2026 to continue with the use of the property for cultural activities at a rate of 10%, but the Region refused to grant further extensions.
“The Municipality of Lucca, even before the conclusion of all the works foreseen by the financing – was Marras’ response -, used the premises of the Ex Cavallerizza for various activities and events that did not correspond to the purposes for which the initial financing had been recognized . The regional offices learned of some of these from the local news, and not from the Municipality. The Region has expressed opposition and concern on various occasions and has repeatedly formally called on the Municipality to complete the works, inviting it to avoid hosting new initiatives which, in addition to being divorced from the purpose of the program agreement, could further slow down its completion”.
Marras, in his response, reconstructed the entire story of the works at the Ex Cavallerizza.
“The expansion of Information point And tourist reception in the Ex Cavallerizza in Lucca – the councilor recalled – he is late. The works, divided into three lots, began in 2021 but are still ongoing, with only the first two lots reported to the Tuscany Region. The third lot, in turn divided into three sub-interventions, was suspended due to an exhibition underway in the building. The causes of delays are different. Among these, the complexity of the interventions, the lack of personnel in the Municipality of Lucca and the use of the property for events that do not comply with the purposes of regional funding. The Tuscany Region has expressed its opposition to this last aspect“.
According to the Region, the use of the structure for exhibitions, exhibitions and gala evenings would therefore be “non-compliant”.
“On several occasions – explains Marras – the Region has urged the Municipality to finish the works and not to host events that slow down the completion of the work. He also asked about draw up a regulation for the use of the property which defines its main use in a manner consistent with the purposes of the financing”. The real risk is that of losing the financing. “The regional contribution – clarified Marras – it may be maintained only on the condition that the works are completed without delay, and that the prevalent use of the asset is consistent with the destination envisaged by the Agreement or with purposes, even indirect, of service to businesses and production activities. If these conditions are not respected, the municipal administration’s interest in carrying out the financed intervention can be considered to have ceased. However, the Municipality has requested the possibility of a 10% exemption for use of the property in the years 2025 and 2026 for cultural activities, waiting to be able to make additional municipal sites available for cultural and exhibition purposes which are currently being renovated with Pnrr funds. In this regard, the Region’s response was to accept the proposed percentages (80% – 20%), but without any further exceptions in favor of cultural activities”.
Marras also stated that the contribution due to the Municipality will be “redetermined in proportion to the completed intervention and tested within the authorized timetable” and that “to date, the Municipality has not yet transmitted the use regulations requested by the Region”.
“I am very satisfied and I thank the councilor for the exhaustive response – commented Valentina Mercanti in the chamber -. I am worried about the delays in the works and the purposes of use which are not respected by the municipal administration of Lucca. In this sense, I very much agree with the denial that the Region expressed its opinion regarding the two-year extension for use for cultural activities. This type of destination worries me because we are no longer a pandemic, where there was a need for events prolonged for months and months. We need to understand what type of tourism Lucca wants. In this sense the Ex Cavallerizza but also the Manufacturing can become the right mix of structures to make a leap in quality. We need to start again from the funding granted and I hope that the Municipality will implement the Region’s indications for the implementation of development and redevelopment interventions in the Lucca area relating to the productive activities sector”.
