Naples, Piazza Garibaldi building site. Social gatehouse opened

he social concierge, an outpost of the new Piazza Garibaldi, has been open for a fortnight. From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. (temporary and flexible hours) two, sometimes three, operators answer citizens' requests. No less than 30 citizens a day: they have asked for the installation of public toilets, the recovery of the basketball courts, which are now seriously dilapidated, someone asks for work. A local restaurateur is starting a social football school. Plans are being made, together with a group of mothers who frequent the playground, for a complete renovation. But this is only the beginning.

"We have opened the concierge, even before it is duly equipped, to give the signal of a presence," explains Andrea Mormiroli, project coordinator for the Dedalus cooperative, "and the sense of a radical change. We will take all instances into account, because these must guide us and we want to give answers to them'.

It is called 'La bella piazza' and is the most innovative project about to be launched in Italy. It concerns Piazza Garibaldi in Naples, in the centre, in front of the railway station, in short, the city's showcase, where a complete restyling has been carried out in recent years, but which has not been enough to bring about real urban and social recovery. Now we are turning over a new leaf, with a new recipe that moves from construction to maintenance and that places citizens and private companies alongside the public sector as the sole actor, along with a large number of third sector representatives.

Let us proceed in order. Piazza Garibaldi, the main gateway to the city, with around 50 million people passing through each year, is a key public transport hub. It is a square with serious and historical problems of degradation and public order. For some time now (the gestation has been long), a very broad partnership has been set in motion to regenerate it, with the City of Naples at the forefront, flanked by forty voluntary associations and foundations as well as Neapolitan industrialists and two banks, with a budget of one million. Among the promoters and financiers is Fondazione Con il Sud, which has offered a contribution of 500,000 euro, to which the other supporters have added as much: the million available today will be enough for the first three years. Est(ra)Moenia, Ambrogio Prezioso's design company, also played a propulsive role.

The new project focuses on civic and social recovery. Services, culture, maintenance. The intervention is concentrated in the northern area of the square, the one in which there is a 'Cavea', an amphitheatre, which the municipality will make available to the associations in exchange, not for money, but for services they will offer. Cleaning, landscaping, maintenance in a broad sense will be ensured. As well as social services and a cultural offer. The maintenance and care of play and sports areas will be ensured.