It is a geopolitical revolution. And it is also yet another chapter in the civil war, more or less jokingly intended, between North Rome and South Rome. What has always been one of the reasons for pride and boasting of the Romanardari against the Romasuddari? In addition to having snatched, but not necessarily, the post-Ilary Totti from the maritime climates of Casal Palocco to bring him to the pre-Alps of the Stelluti area, that of having since 1965 – “so much stuff”, as they say horribly in the Urbe – the headquarters of the Rai in Prati and not perched on the mushroom of the Eur or in Mostacciano (now Meloni area). Well, the Capitoline imagery needs to be changed: for two years, which will presumably be more, given that in Italy everything is done slowly, the building of the public service and the dying horse of Viale Mazzini will move to Ostiense. Not to the Eur but almost.
Il Messaggero had anticipated this revolution some time ago. Which has now been put in black and white in the Rai Board of Directors meeting which took place yesterday. Throwing into panic the over 1200 employees of the building full of 1960s asbestos in Prati, who will have to move to the other part of Rome which they, like all those who live on the slopes of Monte Mario, consider a bit of Africa. And in short, when they arrive at the new offices in via Alessandro Severo, on Colombo, on the right side going towards the sea, they will only be able to say they are explorers and locals accustomed to coffee at Antonini or Faggiani, to sandwiches at Vanni accompanied perhaps by the Il Vannino cocktail and to the gossip consumed by Settembrini who is now called Achilli: hic sunt leones.
The fact is that the Board of Directors decided as follows: the Rai headquarters on Viale Mazzini will temporarily move, in the second half of 2025, for renovation work. The preliminary contract for the rental of a new property, on Via Alessandro Severo, that is, a little further down on Colombo after the Palazzo della Regione, was approved by the councilors. The contract for the three-year editions of the program Affari Tuoi for 2024-27 was also approved, as well as the offer for the acquisition of non-exclusive rights for the highlights of the Serie A soccer championship for 2024-2027: but these, even if super-popular in their turn, are another story. Here we need to tell the story of the Rome North-Rome South war. It was thought to move Rai, from 2025 to the end of 2027 when it will return (or not) to its usual cradle, to the former Tim complex on Via Oriolo Romano, still Rome North. It was then considered that putting those buildings into operation would have been too complicated. And so, the move will take place on the other side of the world. That is, in the former Wind building on the corner of Cristoforo Colombo. Someone, the minorities are always there, celebrates: “I live in Cinecittà, better Colombo than Mazzini!”.
THE TWO WORLDS
Many others are disoriented. Because they are used to the comforts of Prati. The first of which is this. Those who are familiar with the Convitto Nazionale school know that it is next to the building of the dying horse. And they also know that quite a few Viale Mazzini employees take their children to school in this excellent (public) institute. Not bad: I take my children to school, I go to work next door, I finish around six and I pick him up without too much effort or maybe I ate with him, if he is a high school student, during the lunch break. Now, all this will no longer be possible. Home, and school in North Rome and work in South Rome is a problem. Those who went to work on foot swear. Those who went there on a scooter will have to give it up for the hateful car. Do I quit my job or do I start – but who knows how long they will allow me – smart working?
It comes to saying: don’t worry, there is the metro that goes towards Ostiense (and there will be a good school in those parts too). But above all, and taking into account the fact that from lunchtime the restaurateurs in the Mazzini-Delle Vittorie area are quite desperate because they lose the Rai tour: gastronomically it could be better to move to via Severo. For the dozens of Rai celiacs, there are I Maccheroncini over there, for gulten free. But above all, watch out for Trecca, an old style but nouvelle vogue trattoria which placed seventh in the ranking of the best carbonaras in the city. And it is trendier and less old-fashioned than the usual places in Rome. Maybe trespassing towards the end of the world, for the classic radical chic and radical Rai mushrooms (even if not all of them are like that, and there are many professionals in the company), will be able to provide a boost that is not only recreational but also (yes, we want to go too far! ) creative.
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Read the full article at
The messenger
