A city as a stage for artists and performers

Palermo (gro) For the second time, the city center of Palermo has become a stage for musicians, poets and acrobats for one night, and again the “Notte Bianca”, organized by the provincial administration, was a huge success: At “at least 300,000 people”, the organizers estimate the number of revellers who enjoyed and celebrated the round of events in the squares and streets of the historic center. The two main axes of the city center, via Maqueda and via Roma, were closed on the night of the first Sunday in September, together with the adjacent side streets and squares along a total length of almost 5 kilometers, and converted into a huge pedestrian zone. Criticism came from the tourism authorities. The “Notte Biamca” had been communicated completely inadequately. One had once again missed the opportunity to make an “attractive major event” in time and nationally known.

Without incident until 6 a.m.

In defense of the provincial government, it must be said that the Old Town Festival could hardly have withstood very many more visitors. Despite the masses of revellers, however, there were no incidents worth mentioning. The police and the Carabinieri did not have to intervene in any way, except for their sheer presence and occasional assistance in the traffic jams at the edges of the festival zones. So even the officials enjoyed street theater, pock and Italopop, puppet shows and fire eaters, languorous songs, sicil rap, jazz and recitations. The festival stretched hn until the early morning at 6 am.

Nearly immeasurable cultural treasures

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On the other hand, the nightly summer festival could become a new trademark of the Sicilian capital. After all, tourism authorities have been calling for decades for more high-profile efforts to highlight Palermo’s almost immeasurable cultural treasures. It’s “quite a joke,” says tourist guide and art historian Milena Visconti, “if tourists from seaside resorts are to be introduced to Palermo, a city of over a million inhabitants, in a single day.” A “realistic minimum package” must include at least 5 days, she said. The “Notte Bianca” could advance such a development as a highlight, at the beginning or at the end of a Palermo cultural week.