Genoa destroys landmark eyesore in preparation for becoming 2004 European Capital of Culture

Genoa's most famous eyesore, the Silo Ponte Parodi, was demolished May 30 as part of a huge urban renovation plan in preparation for the historic port city becoming the European Capital of Culture for 2004.
The ungainly concrete grain silo was erected in the postwar era when heavy industry was favoured as the best means to rebuild the bombed out Old Port.
But industry has been moving out for decades to be replaced by tourism. The redevelopment of the historic Old Port was pushed ahead to mark the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's first voyage to America in 1492. Though sailing under the Spanish flag, Columbus was a Genoan - and may have been Jewish.
The picturesque Old Port today features the city's famous aquarium, one of the largest in Europe, as well as other tourist attractions.
The site of the grain silo will be redeveloped as a seaside piazza with a number of new museums.
As a gateway for Europe onto the open sea and the world, Genoa is the biggest port on the Mediterranean and one of Italy's most important cities. Its international role has been enhanced in recent years, making it the choice for the seat of the G8 Summit of 2001, and as European Capital of Culture for 2004.
Genoa will be sharing the latter distinction with Lille, France.
To mark the two prestigious dates, the city has been undergoing a major urban restyling and promotion of its natural and cultural attractions. Its parks and gardens, coasts, villas and palaces, churches and museums have made Genoa famous. The extensively preserved medieval quarter is the largest of any Mediterranean port.
In the last decade, Genoa has strengthened a network of relationships with other port cities to form a continuing cooperation not only in the Mediterranean and in Europe but globally.
Genoa coordinates the network of the Cities of the Mediterranean, with a view toward renewing Euro-Mediterranean links on a local level. The first Summit of Mediterranean cities was held in the city on October 12-14, 2000.
Genoa was nominated the President of the EDURC Commission for Economic Development and Urban Regeneration of Eurocities for 2001-2002, in which about 40 important cities participated to talk about strategic planning, innovation and entrepreneurship, structural funds and the impact on urban policy.
On March 31, 2000 a protocol of collaboration was signed between Genoa and Valparaiso, Chile. Other agreements of cooperation and / or friendship have been signed with Barcelona, Spain and Athens, Greece (July 17, 1999), Lille (May 14, 1999, in preparation for 2004), Azuchi-Cho, Japan in 1989), Dalian, China in 1998), Havana, Cuba in 1991, and Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2000.

Publication Date: 2002-06-02
Story Location: http://tandemnews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=1397