The protection of the numerous cultural assets that enrich the city’s heritage requires education in civic respect, but also more stringent surveillance measures. There has been no shortage of episodes of vandalism and various incivility in recent months. Like the vandalization of the lights that illuminate the Lombard walls or even before that of the pillars that run around the Traino arch. In addition to these real acts of urban devastation, there were then widespread demonstrations of bad taste, in particular, those which affected the Church of Hagia Sophia, a World Heritage Site but also a traditional church, complete with daily functions and wedding ceremonies. Many: from April to August, 35 will be celebrated in the medieval jewel this year. In practice, a full booking agenda on every weekend.
THE APPEAL
In March the parish priest Don Marco Capaldowho became responsible for the San Filippo Neri parish unit, launched new rules of engagement for the promises of eternal love, after in some cases the limit of tolerability had been exceeded. In particular, last December 15th, when a Neapolitan couple thought of decorating the churchyard of Santa Sofia with a red carpet worthy of a cinema exhibition, complete with a floral walkway and an arch of red roses at the church door. An eyesore that pushed Mayor Mastella to issue an urgent ordinance banning decorations not in keeping with the decorum of the place, then slightly softened in May with the possibility of displaying “small floral decorations and plants”. In general, as regards the decorum of the buffer zone, the ordinance passed by the union on 18 December last is in force which prohibits football matches in the churchyard or other improper uses of the area, as well as the entire historic centre. A constant presence of at least one police patrol is expected. The Santa Sofia area is monitored by the E-23 station of the city’s video surveillance network, but it is evidently a useful tool in the posthumous phase with respect to any unfortunate damage.
Precisely to prevent acts of vandalism, the culture councilor Antonella Tartaglia Polcini, believes that education in respect is fundamental. «Our line is certainly that of maximum vigilance, but raising citizens’ awareness is crucial for the protection of urban decorum. Citizenship education starts from making public places feel like one’s own.” According to the culture manager, cameras help, but they don’t solve the root problem. «Cameras are certainly effective, but in themselves they can only cure the symptom, not the cause. Better is the drug that acts on the causes” underlined Tartaglia Polcini. «It is necessary to work with schools, to make everyone’s assets feel like their own. Also in view of the recognition of the second UNESCO site in the city, the Via Appia, we make sure that we are up to par with an education that is a modus vivendi” added the councilor. Finally she added: «Next week we will have an internal table in common to define new strategies that include the protection of new points of interest, such as the recently inaugurated Teatro De Simone». As regards urban decorum, finally it should be noted that the Municipality approved the new regulations for dehors in March, and bars and restaurants are adapting to the new rules. Tables and chairs must be dark in color, umbrellas beige, and all external arrangements must be surrounded by planters. Regulation that applies to the entire historic center with the aim of guaranteeing urban decorum and preserving the aesthetics of the area.
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