europa nostra

"Italia Nostra e Europa Nostra unite contro la tramvia nel centro storico di Firenze"
Europa Nostra Endorses the Campaign Launched by Italia Nostra against the
Passage of the Tramway through the Historic Centre of Florence

At a press conference held in Rome on 5 February 2008, Europa Nostra and Italia Nostra expressed their firm opposition to the construction of a  tramway line through the very heart of the historic centre of Florence.
According to the current plans, which are promoted by the Municipality of Florence, a 32-meter long tramway would, among others, run right through the Piazza del Duomo, in between the Baptistery and the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (the Duomo), and would constitute an unacceptable and intolerable "aggression" on the delicate historic fabric of the World Heritage City of Florence. While recognising the need for the city of Florence to invest in an environmental-friendly public transport system which would include the construction of one or more tramway lines, Mr Giovanni Losavio, President of Italia Nostra, Mr Antonello Alici, Secretary General of Italia Nostra, Mrs Rossana Bettinelli, Vice-President of Italia Nostra and Europa Nostra Council Member, and Mrs Sneska Quaedvlieg-Mihailovic, Europa Nostra's Secretary General, urged the Florence authorities to find an alternative solution for the citizens' and tourists' mobility needs in the historic centre of the city. This could be done with the help of electrical (mini)busses which are currently already in use and which would serve as the main transportation vehicle within the limits of the historic centre of Florence.
This protest campaign was started by citizens of Florence and is now gaining a new momentum with a nation-wide campaign launched by Italia Nostra, and supported by Fondo per l'ambiente italiano (FAI), another Italian Member Organisation of Europa Nostra, and other Italian heritage organisations active both on local and national level. The public appeal against the tram running through the heart of Florence was also signed by a number of distinguished Italian personalities from the world of heritage, culture, tourism and business and will be open for signature for interested citizens beyond the frontiers of Italy. Given the fact that the historic city of Florence constitutes an irreplaceable part of Europe's common cultural heritage and indeed a precious contribution to the heritage of the mankind, Europa Nostra felt it to be its duty to endorse the campaign and to engage in raising the awareness of the European public opinion on the campaign for the safeguard of the historic heart of Florence.
Italia Nostra and Europa Nostra also believe that the case of Florence has an emblematic importance and calls for a Europe-wide discussion on the best practices concerning mobility schemes for Europe's historic cities which need to strike the right balance between making those cities viable and better adapted to the needs of the 21st century and ensuring the best possible safeguard of their invaluable historic and artistic heritage which form part of the roots identity and quality of life of local communities and Europe's citizens at large.

Europa Nostra: www.europanostra.org