16th century bridge ‘at risk’ from Italian hydroelectric plant
A HISTORIC timber bridge in Italy is at risk from the construction of a hydroelectric project, campaigners say.
The covered bridge, which spans the Brenta river, was built in 1569 by Andrea Palladio, whose Palladian style of architecture – based on the symmetry, perspective and values of the formal classical Greek and Roman temples – inspired buildings across the world, including the White House.
It links the two halves of the old centre of Bassano del Grappa, a picturesque town framed by the foothills of the Dolomites in the Veneto region of northern Italy.
The regional government has approved plans for a hydroelectric plant to be built 140 yards downstream of the bridge, in line with EU initiatives for green energy projects using renewable resources such as wind and water.
But the plan has been opposed by many locals, the town council and Italia Nostra, a heritage group similar to the National Trust.
They say it threatens not only Palladio’s bridge but also a medieval castle and a frescoed 15th century palace. “The construction threatens the integrity of a number of important sites, including Palladio’s bridge, the palazzo and the castle,” Carmine Abate, the secretary of the local branch of Italia Nostra, told The Daily Telegraph.
“We’re all for sustainable energy but you need to choose the location carefully. The plant would be right in the historic centre of Bassano del Grappa.
“Building it would entail digging up a centuries-old canal with stone walls. The turbine will need a lot of water, which will lower the level of the river and endanger the bridge foundations.”
The heritage organisation claims the £1.3 million project will not even be very useful because it will only generate 125kw of electricity – enough for just a few households, in a town with a population of 43,000.
“There is no justification for the project economically or in terms of public benefit. It brings with it only grave risks,” Italia Nostra said in a report.
The Renaissance palace and the Ezzelini castle, built 800 years ago by medieval warlords, are most at risk because they lie adjacent to the planned construction site, experts said.
“The risk of affecting the foundations of the palace is extremely high, digging would compromise the stability of the building irredeemably and could cause it to collapse,” said Renato Vitaliani, a structural engineer from Padua University.
Opponents are now taking their battle to a national water authority tribunal in Rome, with a hearing to be held next month.
Enrico Cappelletti, a regional MP, said: “The bridge is visited by tourists from around the world. We hope that the tribunal will immediately block the project and safeguard the symbol of Bassano del Grappa.”