It was needed. Piazza Cardinal Pacca, known to everyone in Benevento as Piazza Santa Maria, needed a profound and concrete restyling which, beyond the political jabs of recent months, evidently needed to be done at least according to the approval rating of the residents present this evening when the entire administration, led by the mayor Clemente Mastella, returned it to the city after the new asphalt surface, the new parking stalls redistributed and designed from scratch and the info point for tourists which will be managed by the Pro Loco of Benevento.
Therefore, there are two new elements of the square: the tourist front office – among the most contested and probably troubled – but which has yielded new important archaeological discoveries and the demolition of the wall at the edge of the square which has expanded the area – now illuminated and cleaned – in connection with the alleys of the Triggio district . An area probably belonging to the ancient baths complex.
“There was nothing in Piazza Cardinal Pacca, today there is a completely redeveloped place” stated Mayor Mastella proudly.
“A place is born, in Piazza Cardinal Pacca, which makes a clean break with a past that was only neglect, waste and nothing else. We have constantly dialogued with the Superintendence – he remarked -, all the steps were agreed upon with them: no one had ever said a word until this project on the finds arrived. Then – the jab at the opposition – we discovered unlikely experts in archaeology. The truth is that as of now there is no objective, scientific evidence of significant archaeological findings. The truth is that Piazza Cardinal Pacca is reborn today: with the info point for visitors, an extremely pleasant green space, the lighting of the ancient walls, the asphalt completely redone. Once again where there was darkness, we brought light. Seventy parking spaces also remain. We are sure that the city is with us, in this further urban redevelopment work that remedies the problems and inefficiencies of the past. We continue to build a puzzle of emotions, beauty and concreteness” concluded Mastella.
Work carried out thanks to Pics funds and constantly monitored by the deputy mayor Francesco De Pierro: “The sedimentation of history, the strength of light and the bet on tourist hospitality: the city once again embraces Piazza Cardinale Pacca. And he finds it redeveloped, with a new urban function, with a renewed look and with a splendid lighting effect which for the first time enhances a small treasure such as the surrounding ancient ruins. Today Piazza Pacca finds a strategic role in the proposal of a coordinated tourist offer, it is a space with new asphalt and greener. The Pics – continued De Pierro – continue to give light and beauty to the city and today transform a non-place into a renewed and valorised area”.
And also from the deputy mayor a broadside to the opposition: “The skepticism of some is defeated today: from the theaters set up by the archaeologists on the eve, today we move on to a show of light, greenery and urban re-functionalisation. No more broken records, music has changed. In Piazza Pacca, today the decorum, until yesterday the degradation”.
