Siena: Fortezza, new program of summer events, but no bar at the San Domenico bastion
A new program of summer events to animate the Medici Fortress in Siena, but this year no bar at the San Domenico bastion, which in recent years had represented a pleasant and appreciated novelty for many Sienese. A meeting place where musical and artistic events are also held. The situation was discussed in the City Council thanks to the question of Tommaso Bartalini on the concession of spaces for the summer of this year in the Fortezza.
Retracing the steps that led, with the resolution of the Council of 19 March 2020 n. 92, to the approval of the calendar presented by the Propositivo (Pro +) social promotion association as it responds to the needs of the Administration for the enhancement of the structure with an adequate program of summer initiatives, which the same association has managed and organized, for two summers (2020 and 2021), the councilor asked for information on how, possibly, the municipality intends to use the fortress for the next summer season.
The Tourism Councilor repeated the key passages of the summer programming in the Fortress, recalling that, with Council resolution no. 69 of 28 February 2019, a first calendar of events was launched, on an experimental basis, aimed at enhancing the area, created by the Propositivo Pro + social promotion association. Subsequently, a project for the organization of summer musical, cultural, sporting and food and wine entertainment initiatives was approved (resolution of GC n.31 of 30 January 2020), from 2 June to 11 October 2020 and for the same period of ‘Summer 2021, with the possibility of an extension of a further year, if no will of the two parties formally express, by January 2022, a different one.
He then explained that the judging commission gave 14 points to the Propositivo Social Promotion Association (Pro +) and 6 points to the company (Emphasis), the only ones they presented, and that the Board then approved the project presented by Pro + and convention scheme with the same.
In reiterating that, as foreseen in the aforementioned documents, the project was of an experimental type, he explained that the Administration expects it is therefore reserved to evaluate the various periods of development. Hence the decision, in agreement with the Arezzo-Siena Chamber of Commerce and the Confcommercio and Confesercenti trade associations, to create a new piano taking into account the most relevant aspects that emerged. Among these is the need to build a calendar capable of attracting not only citizens, but a tourism attentive to this type of initiative that produces important numbers in terms of flows and permanence in the territory above all.
The Administration (Council resolution no.484 of 25 November 2021) has therefore expressed the will to carry out a new project to promote the economic development of the territory and enhance the public space of the Medici Fortress with the conception, organization and promotion of a summer program, from 10 June to 30 September 2022, of a cultural and sporting nature, in agreement with the Chamber of Commerce.
Underlining that with this, the Municipality shares, as part of its strategies, the aim of promoting the development of the reference economic system, with a series of integrated support interventions in favor of the territory. And adding that the agreement is pending. While the Tenders office together with the Tourism, Communication and Commerce Directorate and the CCIA are working on the tender.
As highlighted by the councilor, the Administration, with the resolution of 25 November last, decided to proceed with a new project without extending the agreement with the Pro + association for another year. Pointing out that the project was experimental precisely because from the evaluation of the activities carried out it was possible to draw useful feedback on which to build the future. However, the prolongation of the technical times to budget the resources by the two bodies, the study of the new call, and above all the uncertainties caused by the pandemic, have slowed down the process, not making it possible to publish it for the summer of 2022. Commenting that a review of important events requires, in fact, a suitable promotion, carried out several months in advance, so that it is possible to have a return in economic terms and participation.
Informing the classroom that the new call, currently being defined, starts the process at the end of the summer to be ready with the calendar of events for 2023, he concluded by reiterating that for 2022 the will of the Administration is to animate the Fortress with initiatives proposed and organized by local subjects, some already approved, including in the months of June and July, “Palio a Canestro”, “They will be famous in wine”; others promoted by the Carbon Neutrality Association and the multi event of combat sports and martial arts, as well as the Cinema in Fortezza. And declaring that with the councilor for culture he is already working to define many other quality appointments as soon as possible.
Bartalini took note of the new project that the Administration is carrying out in collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce. Just wait for the next developments