«The challenge of urban decorum can only be won through an alliance between a present Administration and a responsible community. For this reason I believe it is important to underline the value of the message you launched, because it represents a path in which politics returns to being close to people’s real problems, transforming daily critical issues into opportunities for rebirth and valorisation”. Giuseppe Pinto, provincial commissioner for Christian Democracy with Rotondi, writes to the mayor Francesco Cannizzaro recalling that «in a few weeks Reggio Calabria will experience one of the most important and heartfelt moments of its history: the feast of the Madonna della Consolazione. For the people of Reggio this celebration does not only represent a religious anniversary, but a heritage of faith, tradition and identity that belongs to the collective memory of the city. The Madonna della Consolazione has accompanied the journey of the Reggio community for centuries, representing a spiritual point of reference for thousands of citizens who every year participate with devotion in the traditional journey of the Holy Effigy from the Basilica of the Hermitage to the Cathedral Basilica. It is a manifestation of deeply rooted faith, capable of uniting different generations and attracting numerous pilgrims. Precisely for this reason, preparing a safer, more orderly and welcoming city on the occasion of the feast of the Patron Saint represents a gesture of attention towards the history and deepest feelings of the community. In this context, the maintenance and redevelopment interventions of the places involved take on a value that goes beyond the technical aspect: they become a concrete sign of respect towards a tradition that belongs to the entire city”.
Among the places that deserve particular attention «there is Piazza del Popolo, a historical and identifying space that must return to having the role it deserves in city life. The square, which for years has been an important commercial and social point of reference, is today mainly used as a parking area and requires interventions capable of restoring its dignity, safety and functionality. The redevelopment planned as part of the remodulation of the Reggio Decree, with the creation of a multi-storey car park, represents a prospect for the future of the area. While awaiting the definitive work, however, immediate intervention appears necessary to eliminate dangers and degradation. The conditions of some pipes, pillars and stone coverings require safety. Particular attention should also be paid to the rooms underneath the square, which have become a waste accumulation area. The reclamation of the environments, the removal of the landfill and the recovery of the decoration would represent a strong signal of the desire to restore value to an important place in the city”.
