Venezia: ferrovie e grandi infrastrutture

The article summarizes the goals and results of a cycle of meetings coordinated by Laura Facchinelli and Michelangelo Savino for the Ateneo Veneto, dedicated to Venice, the Veneto region and the decisive role of infrastructure in the profound transformations of cities and territories over the past century. These meetings have focused on: 1) the transformations that took place in Venice in the midnineteenth century with the construction of the railroad, which not only introduced new functions but also initiated a radical reorganization of the urban structure; 2) the devastating organization of the city on the mainland of Venice under the infuence of the railroad network, and that could become a guiding element for a different urban scenario within a sustainable post-industrial perspective; 3) the relations between Venice and the surrounding region, exemplified by the mountains in Belluno, where the lack of infrastructure strategies and short-term planning policies have been prejudicial to development and created problems that have yet to be resolved; 4) the role of infrastructure in ensuring Venice’s relations with the rest of the world, not just in terms of tourist accessibility, but in terms of Venice’s strategic position within the global networks and the revitalization of its role as a city and economic centre.