Italy goes bananas over tropical trees
THE sudden appearance of a cluster of palm trees next to Milan’s famous cathedral has sparked a row over the use of non-native plants beside an iconic Italian landmark.
Adding insult to injury for some botano-nationalists is that the planting project has been sponsored by Starbucks, the US coffee giant preparing for an assault on an Italian market based on the nation’s cherished network of mostly independent bars.
The 42 palm trees, some of them 5m tall, are the first plants to be installed under a plan that also involves placing banana trees in the shadow of the 14th-century Gothic cathedral, known as the Duomo.
Celebrated Italian architect and garden designer Paolo Pejrone said: “Plants in urban green spaces don’t necessarily have to be native, but planting these species in the Duomo Piazza seems like a neo-Gothic folly to me. Matteo Salvini, leader of the far-right Northern League said: “Palms and bananas in Piazza Duomo! All we need now are camels and monkeys and we will really have Africa in Italy.”
The politician had already had his hackles raised by Starbucks’ reported suggestion that it could employ thousands of African refugees in its future Italian outlets.
“As far as their coffee is concerned, I’ll be having mine elsewhere,” Salvini said.
Starbucks had the trees planted after winning a competitive tender to renovate some of Milan’s green spaces.
But even centre-left mayor Giuseppe Sala did not seem completely convinced. “I’ll suspend judgment. “Let’s see when the work is finished,” he said.
Palms are not native to Italy but are widespread in more temperate areas of the country, including Rome, the Riviera and Sicily.