The Romans were able to check out the work of Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava at an exhibition at the Scuderie del Quirinale, but now it is finally Venice’s turn to have a Calatrava masterpiece part of the architecture of the city.
After much controversy, the inauguration of the Venetian bridge across the Grand Canal will take place, though there will be no public ceremony to celebrate the opening.
Venice mayor, Massimo Cacciari, has announced the bridge will be named “Ponte della Costituzione” and there the ceremony finishes.
The bridge was commissioned in 1997 and after controversy over its stability and no disabled access, in addition to raised costs, the steel and glass structure is ready to connect Piazzale Roma with Venice’s train station.
Despite it all, it’s good to see Italy’s modern engineering renewing and reviving its architectural traditions.
