Benedino invokes “a strategy”. Comotto speaks of “a period of strange sensational discoveries”. Fresc: “Nothing concrete”
Ivrea. “What to do?”. After discovering that he owns three quarters of a Roman amphitheater, the Municipality of Ivrea has the task of answering the fundamental question of politics. The opposition in the city council is also asking for it, expressing more than a few perplexities, starting with the discovery. A first response comes from the address deed, approved last Tuesday, in which the administration entrusts itself with the mandate to acquire from the State Property especially the building and the parking lot that would allow the ruins to overlook Corso Vercelli. The infopoint of the Roman Ivrea should be housed in the building.
«It’s all right – he explains Andrea Benedino, councilor of the Democratic Party -, but I believe that this city must establish a strategic line. Do we want to focus on the Olivetti Ivrea, on that of the Via Francigena or on the ancient Eporedia? We also have to decide how many infopoints we can have, because we have a tourist office in the museum open during the week, which many complain about because it is not visible. Then we have an infopoint for Ivrea Unesco open only on weekends. If we want to add a third, we must first decide which path we need to take. The amphitheater must be inserted in a precise path. However, it is another thing if you want to give a building in the hands of an association, but in that case you should collect expressions of interest and run a public tender ».
As for the property, according to Benedino, «it is a bit like the discovery of hot water. This is not what has held back the past administrations from intervening. It is necessary to understand if it is a right lever for tourism development. As an employee of the sector, I got the idea that our Municipality has a huge wealth, but is investing too little in promotion ».
The group leader of Viviamo Ivrea also lingers on the strangeness of the discovery, Francesco Comotto. «It seems to me that we are a bit in the period of sensational discoveries – he explains -. The Movicentro first, then the amphitheater and the former Valcalcino. Over the past six months, very dated documents have been popping up like mushrooms. ‘ Among other things, Comotto recalls, the idea of accessing Corso Vercelli closely resembles a proposal from his group during the election campaign, so he finds it favorable. “If I remember correctly, the State Property also proposed to the past administrations to take it – he explains -, on the other hand it costs nothing except some paperwork. The amphitheater is kept open, but there is also the possibility of gaining a parking space for the city to relieve Corso d’Azeglio, removing those who have done on the road that are dangerous and are of no use to anyone. Just move, have the will to do things ».
According to Massimo Fresc, leader of the 5-star Movement, good intentions are not enough. «The Roman amphitheater – he explains – is an important archaeological testimony; the site must be enhanced and made easily usable. It is regrettable that, net of the good intentions announced by the junta, nothing concrete has been developed in the area during the three years of the Sertoli government ».