Shooting stars in Verona: huge Arena Christmas decoration plummets, damage to steps

Damage to some of the steps ofVerona’s Arena: while the huge comet star, the giant Christmas decoration that still, as of Jan. 23, decorated the famous Verona monument, was being dismantled, the base of the star placed inside the amphitheater broke off, plummeting down to the cavea and damaging some of the steps. The Arena was seized by the Public Prosecutor’s Office, which opened a file for culpable damage, and will be closed to the public until January 30. Fortunately, no personal injuries are reported.

Damage has not yet been quantified: technicians from the Monuments Area of the municipality of Verona and the Verona Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape Superintendent’s Office are dealing with it. There were no visitors inside at the time of the collapse, as it was a weekly day when the monument was closed to the public.

The steel structure is 70 meters high and weighs 78 tons; it was the steel base of the star that has been set up between the Arena and Piazza Bra every year since 1984 that collapsed.

The collapse occurred this morning; however, all verifications are underway to reconstruct how the accident happened; responsible for the construction site and the installation and dismantling of the star is Fondazione Verona per l’Arena, which has hired a specialized firm.

“It is a shame to see such damage to the extraordinary Roman monument that represents Verona throughout the world,” said Deputy Mayor Barbara Bissoli after the inspection, along with Mayor Damiano Tommasi. “Today’s event demonstrates, if there was any need, that the use of the Arena must be accompanied by great expertise and respect, because any damage represents an unhealthy wound.”

Shooting stars in Verona: huge Arena Christmas decoration plummets, damage to steps

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