Roma's abandoned cinemas face uncertain future amid legislative battle

At the Basilica di San Saba in Rome, a gathering focused on the fate of abandoned cinemas, featuring speakers such as Valerio Giuseppe Carocci, Silvano Curcio, Anna Maria Bianchi, Luca Carinci, Francesca Comencini, Catello Masullo, and Paolo Ravagli. A significant issue discussed was the "Legge Metropolitan" (Law 171), which poses a risk of transforming these venues without safeguarding their heritage. Around 55 cinemas are in jeopardy. An alternative proposed was the French "tiers-lieux" model, which permits former cinemas to serve multiple purposes while maintaining some cinematic functions. This concept, introduced by Ray Oldenburg in 1989, is illustrated by the Circolo Outpump project in Milan. The meeting underscored the necessity for updated urban planning regulations to preserve these essential community hubs.