Genoa, the ordinance empties the entire promenade but the center and the hills are besieged

The local police had to intervene in Righi to manage traffic and via XX Settembre was packed like a Christmas Eve Sunday

Genoa – A runner attacks the last section of Corso Italia, towards Foce. He has one foot that jumps to the side, and his trajectory cuts diagonally the last 200 meters before the finish line on Corso Marconi. It is just after noon and, in theory, the woman should be on the mountain sidewalk because at 12 noon on Saturday, November 14, it came into force the order of the mayor of Genoa, Marco Bucci, prohibiting walking – and also for running but not for fishing – on the shores of the whole city, from west to east.

Outcome? The Genoese have substantially respected the requirements on the beaches, on the coasts and in the main parks of the city where they presented themselves in small groups always equipped with masks. But They stormed the hills, from Monte Fasce to Righi and up to the Ponente hills, as well as the commercial heart of the city. In the middle of the afternoon, while the local police had to intervene in the Righi to manage the traffic of hikers on Saturday via XX Settembre was full of people like a Sunday on Christmas Eve. With many drummers as the soundtrack. And, while Corso Italia was deserted, the gardens of Piazza Rossetti were so crowded with grandparents and grandchildren that the municipal police had to intervene in response to calls from neighbors who denounced overcrowding.

The takeaway bar

Renzo Garbini, owner of the Baretto, doesn’t keep the iconic bar open on Corso Italia on Saturdays and Sundays, even if it’s just to go. The most loyal and aged customers are disciplined and leave the place for coffee and snacks on the day of the holiday. A little more unruly are the kids who, regardless of whether or not they have consumed drinks and takeout, stop to chat in the parking lot in front of the club. The seaside sidewalk of Corso Italia, with most businesses closed, is actually deserted. Except for a few undisciplined runners who, even considering the crowded sidewalk on the mountainside, dare to invade the lane on the sea side crossed only by those who leave the beaches after having done water sports. According to a survey by Fipe Confcommercio, it seems that in Genoa, after the establishment of the orange zone, one in two bars and one in four restaurants remained open. Many sailing schools in the city have gone down to the sea and many fishermen whose activity has not been affected by the bans have been seen on the beach.

All photos, the effects of the new ordinance

Parks and gardens

In the parks of Nervi, Sofia Coppola is on a bench with her friend Nicole, who has a daughter. “As long as the parks are open and the children can go out, it means that everything is fine and we can grit our teeth,” says the mother. “We take advantage of the arrival of the sun to spend half a day in the green,” says Sofía, in the company of her boyfriend. In gardens dotted with exotic plants, environmental guide Mike Lorefice and his botanical advisor, Lorenzo Camerini, study the variety of species throughout the gardens of parks controlled by two volunteers from the National Carabinieri Association. The Anita Garibaldi promenade is deserted and no one needs to check it. The center of Nervi is more crowded “despite substantial compliance with the regulations also thanks to the deployment of the municipal police”, observes Federico Bogliolo, vice president of the municipality of Nervi. Right in via Oberdan there are two of the liveliest commercial activities in the Levantine quarter: the Piazzetta bar, normally open 7 days a week, from morning to midnight, all year round except the first week of March, and the Centrale bakery and pastry shop. a few steps from Antonino Chiarella’s bar.

“We left it open to take away so as not to send employees to layoffs: now they are on vacation, we hope to return to the yellow zone soon and last until Christmas,” says Chiarella. “With the bars closed that we no longer serve for breakfast, we earn half – says the owner of the bakery Barbara Ruggero – We can not complain about the sales at the counter.”