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ITALY VOWED TODAY to unblock some €2 million to save the long-neglected ruins of Pompeii after rain caused further damage to the UNESCO World Heritage landmark.
Culture Minister Dario Franceschini said he was “unblocking many measures which will get the machine working” amid anger about the slow pace of a multi-million EU-backed project to restore the famous Roman site.
Temple of Venus
Franceschini’s statement came after the Temple of Venus and the walls of a tomb and shop in the archaeological site near Naples were damaged by rainfall on Sunday and Monday.
The damaged Porta Nocera doorway. Pic: APhoto/Salvatore La Porta
EU Regional Policy Commissioner Johannes Hahn said that “every collapse is a huge defeat” and urged Italy “to take care of Pompeii, because it is emblematic not only for Europe but also for the world.”
Franceschini stressed that the EU “can be sure that Italy is taking care of Pompeii, both in terms of emergency measures and in the long term.”
Makeover
In addition to the two million euros, Rome has also proposed a tie-up with aerospace and defence giant Finmeccanica to use some of its satellite technology for site maintenance and weather warnings.
Last year, conservation workers began a €105 million makeover of Pompeii, funded by the EU to the tune of €41.8 million.
But according to the Corriere della Sera daily Tuesday, only €588,000 has been spent so far — just 0.56 percent of the funds.
The project is seen as crucial to the survival of Pompeii after a series of collapses at the 44-hectare site in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius – the volcano that destroyed the city in 79 AD.
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well worth saving , fascinating place .
Would love to visit. Top of bucket list!
Well worth a visit
That bloody pirite is everywhere !!!
Worth every penny .. Amazing place
It’s scandalous how run down some parts of the site are. There are very few, if any security guards wandering about either. I couldn’t believe considering it’s status.
“The time machine alone will set us back several thousand”, Culture Minister Dario Franceschini was later quoted as saying.
€2m, a mere pittance compared to the billions we spent trying to save a crumbling ruin.
It was Frankie Howard’s home I titter ye not
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