Professor John North presents petition to the Italian Embassy to protect Hadrian’s Villa at Tivoli
The Director of the Institute of Classical Studies, Professor John North, has presented to the Italian Embassy in London a copy of an international petition, signed by over 5000 people, protesting at a decision by the Roman authorities to place a landfill garbage site next to Hadrian’s Villa in Tivoli. The Embassy will convey the petition to the Italian Prime Minister.
The Villa is one of the most famous and best preserved imperial palaces and a popular tourist attraction 30 kilometres from Rome. The proposed dump is between 1 and 2 kilometres from the ruins of the Villa and will be160 hectares in size.
Archaeologists and a number of Ministers regard this site as the worst possible choice. Unfortunately, the latest news is that the Special Commissioner responsible has firmly decided in favour of the site at Tivoli. At this stage, only the Prime Minister, Mario Monti, can reverse this decision.
Professor John North said: “This is one of the most important archaeological sites for understanding Roman culture in the age of the Emperors; there may still be time to save it from all the hazards, pollution and unpleasantness of having a major rubbish-dump right next door.”
