The difficult preservation of modern architecture: the cableway and the monorail of “Italia ’61”
The complex built on the occasion of the International Exhibition of “Italia ‘61” was characterized by
the presence of infrastructures, such as the monorail, the cableway and the riverboats, useful to guarantee
visitors easy fruition of the whole Exhibition. After the end of the celebrations, within a few years, the
infrastructures and ephemeral buildings were largely demolished based on economic evaluations, without
considering their cultural value.
The cableway, as well as the monorail, were an integral part of the landscape of Italia ‘61. Unfortunately,
after falling into dis-use they were partially dismantled causing both a profound alteration of the general
plan drawn up for the Exposition and the loss of significant evidence of cultural and technological
development. Therefore, it would be necessary to promote compatible re-use of the still existing assets to
contribute not only to understand and appreciate their historical and cultural value but also to preserve
the memory of a signifi cant past event.
