Civic crowdfunding for cities: how to restore monuments and gardens

CIVIC CROWDFUNDING IN ITALY –

At the moment, the most generous are the people of Bologna. The Portico of San Luca, the longest in the world with its 666 arches that wind along a path of almost four kilometers, has been restored thanks to citizens' money. With the through crowdfunding The goal was to raise €300, but instead, €339.743 was received. Now, a second attempt is underway for the restoration of San Petronio: the requested sum is €200, and the fundraising campaign has just begun. "We're optimistic; we need to fix the apse, the roof, and the entire left side of the basilica. And we expect to do so with the crucial help of Bolognese families..." explains Gianluigi Pagani, president of the Friends of San Petronio association.

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CIVIC CROWDFUNDING IN ITALIAN CITIES –

Churches, porticoes, monuments, squares. But also gardens and botanical gardens. Civic crowdfunding is expanding its reach in Italy., not only as a form of financial support, where public coffers are almost always empty, but also as a new citizen participationIn Naples, nearly 1 million euros were raised for the reconstruction of the City of Science, which was burned down by Camorra clans. In Venice, 4 citizens put up 478 euros to purchase the island of Poveglia at auction and save it from real estate speculation. Milan Fifty-one trees have been planted in Piazza Oberdan. In Florence, €20,000 has been raised for the botanical garden, and Mayor Dario Nardella is considering creating a web platform to offer citizens access to all restoration projects funded with their contributions.

Also to RomeThe redevelopment of Piazza Epiro is possible thanks to civic crowdfunding, a concrete way to transform ideas that would otherwise remain on paper into reality.

TO KNOW MORE: Adopt a green space, so citizens can take care of parks and gardens in their area.