Albergheria, the restyling of Piazza San Francesco Saverio begins: new forecourt and regulated market

Monday March 9 marks a turning point for the Albergheria neighborhood in Palermo. As announced by the Traffic and Urban Mobility Office, the redevelopment works for San Francesco Saverio Square will officially begin, a long-awaited intervention aimed at radically transforming the face of one of the most significant views in the historic center.

The project, funded with municipal resources and drafted by the company 3 Periodico Srl Ingegneria, includes a comprehensive architectural redesign aimed at restoring the church of San Francesco Saverio to its original forecourt. The project aims to create a space dedicated to conviviality and cultural activities through a new pavement that will use noble materials such as cobblestones and river stone. The inclusion of vegetated flower beds and new urban furniture, along with the adjustment of levels to improve accessibility, will make the area more comfortable and usable for the community.

The works have been entrusted to the company CO.IN.AP. S.r.l. and are expected to last 120 days. To allow the construction site to proceed, traffic in the area will undergo some necessary changes: a semi-lane will be closed to traffic, while ensuring a lane of at least 3.50 meters for the normal passage of vehicles. The sidewalks affected by the works will be closed to pedestrians, but protected pedestrian paths will be established to ensure the safety of passersby.

In addition to its aesthetic impact, the intervention carries significant social and political value. Mayor Roberto Lagalla and the Urban Regeneration Councillor Maurizio Carta emphasized that this action aims to take the Albergheria out of the headlines about decay and transform it into a “beauty attractor”. Alongside the construction site, the Municipality will work with the Sbaratto Association to delineate and regulate the area of the historic reuse market, aiming for an effective waste management and a path of legality inspired by the best experiences of free trade in Italy and Europe.