What remains, 100 years later, of the Venetian industrial hub? Marghera?
I'd like to take you on a tour of Porto Marghera, one of the country's increasingly neglected areas.
It's close to and yet far from one of the world's most beloved cities, with its beautiful squares and museums.
Today, I'd like to introduce you to this place.
Marghera: article summary
Marghera: in brief
Venice experienced a sudden burst of modernity in the early 20th century. Considered Europe's largest industrial zone, Porto Marghera was first and foremost the brainchild of entrepreneur Giuseppe Volpi, owner of SADE (Società Adriatica Di Elettricità).
Marghera is the antithesis of the Venice lagoon. They may face each other, but they don't look alike. However, we're talking about the same town. After all, Porto Marghera came into being because factory space in Venice was running out. There was a need for space for large colonies and a port worthy of the name. Marghera was the answer. In addition to the factories, a workers' housing estate was also planned, where today less than 30,000 people live.
A new artistic utility
In recent years, this industrial city has been rediscovered. Professional and amateur photographers alike have been hard at work restoring the aesthetic appeal of the town. a place too long considered a dumping ground.
Undergraduates and researchers practice their theses to design a new future among Venice's industrial wastelands. The city is undergoing continuous transformation. What's here today could be gone tomorrow or in the future. be transformed into something else.
This is the case of the "Giuseppe Volpi" thermoelectric power plant, which in October 2017 had to give way to a logistics hub. The power station had been supplying electricity to the surrounding factories since 1923. Inside, a famous mosaic, which a few lucky visitors had the opportunity to immortalize, depicts a bird's-eye view of the port with the factories and the hydroelectric system that was supposed to power it.
Marghera: rehabilitation in sight
Dismantling has recently been the watchword in Marghera. Often referred to as a graveyard, it remains one of Italy's most important industrial centers. Its "oldest" factory, as well as the one perhaps most closely linked to Venice's productive tradition, is still in operation.
These are the shipyards now managed by Fincantieri, built by Breda from 1917 and completed in 1923. Until the 1980s, they produced mainly naval vessels, but today they are one of the world's leading cruise ship centers.
Another "bastion" of this town is the gigantic mill, opened in 1926 by Chiari & Forti of Silea. Since 1978, this colossus has been one of the largest in Europe, is a member of the Grandi Molini Italiani group.
Occasionally, it is also possible to visit during special "open house" events.
Marghera: explore on foot
Porto Marghera can be explored on foot or by boat. In fact, "trips" by vaporetto There's no shortage of them, and you're welcome to explore the factories. Big ships are the norm here and, of course, no one objects to their presence.
Indeed, in the future we hope to bring even more. Getting to know Marghera from the water is a completely different experience from a walk. You can see up close structures that are otherwise remote or hidden by walls.
Porto Marghera, 100 years after its foundation, is a landscape in constant evolution, between an industrial vocation linked to tradition and the search for a new future that will most likely integrate different identities. The destinies of Marghera and Venice remain inextricably linked. If you wish, you can discover some magnificent industrial landscapes in this unspoilt setting a stone's throw from the world's most beautiful city.
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