A soft challenge, against the light, with respect to culture, events, beauties. Mobility contaminates the whole project of "Procida Italian Capital of Culture for 2022". How will the small island of Campania be able to welcome thousands of people who will land there for 12 months in search of exhibitions, events, debates, we asked ourselves? To experience the emotions of the review that will have to sanction the post-Covid Italian cultural restart? Of course, you can't enjoy beauty if you don't know how to get there.
Traditionally the island is explored on foot, in small vans, with non-invasive means. Who does not remember the black bicycle of Massimo Troisi in « Il Postino » ? In turn, a symbol of amiable but necessary itineraries. The fact is that when you have the ambition to discover a place for what it has represented in history, but even more for how it should be remembered, you put yourself on the opposite side to those who organize things.
In the competition for the title of Capital of Culture, this meant thinking about how to make arrivals, departures, travel, parking, landings easier. If the trademark of the awarding of the title is "culture does not isolate" in recent weeks Procida is doing everything possible not to exclude anyone. And not only because the decisive 2022 will arrive, but because there is no better solution for extraordinary events than the one based on the conviction of the community. On land near a toll booth, an airport, near a railway station, the effort would have been more modest. The smaller island of Campania, on the other hand, has to think about exceptional things.
Hundreds of demonstrations are being organized that require conscious, light circularity. In nine months coming here we have to digress, reflect, appreciate works and monuments. Often those who land on an island from the mainland overlook its peculiarities. He goes in search of impossible comforts, so the Procida Cultura 2022 operation also has an educational flavor. We need to receive and correct. « Procida is an island made for steps – he explains Lucia Mameli, Councilor with responsibility for sea and land transport and accessibility. And we are working on a low ecological impact mobility plan ».
Next CovID free, the island makes the general tests of a mobility green, protected, with the arrival of new minibuses supplied by the Campania Region. The President of the Region Vincenzo De Lucafrequently recalls the value of next year's challenge and welcomes the international importance of the Phlegrean site. The new buses are used to get around the island and in this phase they represent a good fusion of purposes between tourism, local authorities, art, culture and hospitality. If on the one hand il Mayor Dino Ambrosino inpresses residents to do without a private car, on the other Councilor Mameli has the task of coordinating a mobility plan without neglecting differentiated needs and requests. A woman at the center of a land and sea network, not always efficient, usually governed by men, she is tenacious, but her task is not easy. We interviewed her.
Which program is the Municipality in the pipeline?
« Procida Capital of Culture gives us a great opportunity to improve and increase both land and sea transport. The EAV bus company manages the public road service and has already accepted the requests of our Administration in recent years by improving and increasing the kilometers traveled that the Region assigns us. It happened especially during the summer, when the island welcomes many tourists »
E il success of Procida Capitale 2022?
« Of course it has accelerated some projects that we see partially completed today. The territory is preparing to reduce the use of the car and public transport must necessarily increase. In recent years we have constantly communicated with the institutions and together we have tried to give answers to citizens, especially the most fragile ones. For example, on the island there are buses with platforms for people with reduced mobility. And a few days ago we presented 2 mini buses supplied by the Campania Region and an electric bus prototype. After a test run through our narrow streets, it could be the first bus to turn "green". In the end we count on having 3 available. »
Think of the visitors, the artists, althe curiosity to live it « da in » Procida?
« Certain. However, some proposals are in embryo, to be developed and explored, such as the possibility of using the public service without a ticket, but with indirect financial sustainability. Or the possibility of having public minibuses arrive in our small, characteristic streets that are currently not served »
The match is relevant. Investments ,above all se based on environmental sustainability, they can't just be public.What is the role of private individuals and shipping companies?
« From the point of view of transport by sea we are committed to a proposal that connects the Phlegraean area, Procida and Ischia and also integrates them with a land connection by road or rail. The creation of a tourist, cultural and landscape circuit along the Phlegraean coast allows us to shorten the distances between archaeological sites of international importance. Some navigation companies have decided to be part of the Promoting Committee of Procida Capital of Culture and will be able to increase connections to and from Procida. That's what I work for."
How to thinks mobility will be reconciled lI anoint them alleys , with the needs of attend events , at exhibitions, at debates ?
« Procida is an island suitable for "steps" with a set of history along our narrow streets. Today the tourist reaches symbolic places such as Terra Murata – Palazzo 'Avalos and Santa Margherita on foot. He is often forced to walk close to walls due to the passage of cars and mopeds. The municipal administration is working on the new mobility plan which should start next June, on an experimental basis. In this way we think of protecting beauties, history and events ».
have less influences environmental, somehow educating those who frequent the islands.
" Surely. We must promote the discovery of our most suggestive sites on foot and by bicycle with the lowest possible ecological impact. Procida is the island of many scents, our visitors as well as the event will be captivated by the authenticity of our narrow streets, by hundreds of vegetable gardens and gardens ».
Finally the port. AND the business card to land on the island. What projects are there?
« The port of Marina Grande is the place that welcomes tourists, with its colorful houses and Palazzo Catena – Palazzo del Montefusco from the XNUMXth century – or Palazzo Merlato for the stupendous battlements above the entire building. Information points will be dedicated to those who arrive, able to address and satisfy every need and curiosity. We are already engaged in redeveloping the current info-point and ticket office. We must not let anyone down." Yes, a job that discounts the days to repay even structural delays.
