Italy’s highest administrative court has definitively barred McDonald’s from building a 10,000 sq. m outlet in the shadow of the third-century Baths of Caracalla, one of Rome’s most celebrated ancient sites. Published on 28 December, the council of state’s ruling upheld the verdict of a lower court preventing the fast food chain from using a tract of land adjacent to the baths to open a drive-through restaurant and parking area. — The Art Newspaper
The court also stated that government authorities are entitled to halt future development projects in or around other important heritage sites. As reported by The Art Newspaper, the Lazio region and the Italian culture ministry can now suspend works in not only existing heritage sites but in locations that authorities “intend to protect”, which have yet to be declared of cultural or landscape interest.
McDonald’s had already started building the drive-through after being approved by the ministry of culture. However, the project was stopped in 2019 following a media outcry and the ministry of culture’s reversal of its position. McDonald’s plans to open 200 new restaurants in Italy by 2025.
11 Comments
great!
I lived in Rome for several years. I think they are talking about one of the many pieces of empty land south of Baths of Caracalla when you look at the map. In reality, it's not near at all. (Check Google Map). Like a good 20 to 40 minute walk.
The south of Rome is not even nice. It's not like Roman Holiday. Graffiti everywhere. There are already tons of stores with giant ugly parking lots. It's not a walkable area. That's probably why they want to build a drive-thru.
A lot of times, the outcry is not really about architecture or heritage. It's sinophobia and not wanting foreign businesses to compete locally.
I just can't support this. I dislike Mcdonald's business, but the government has already approved the project. It wasn't within the protected area. They just changed the protected area after some local franchiser had sunk their money.
You can't change the law after you approve it. This whole thing violates the Rule of Law. What is this, North Korea?
I don't think 'sinophobia' is the word you're looking for here.
Huge missed opportunity to drive through one of these arches and locate the restaurant itself inside the ruins.
oh, what could have been.
This is really funny, Evan! Well done.
Picking on McDonald's on design sensitivity grounds is like jailing Al Capone for tax evasion.
I stand with Italy.... find another spot
Sing it with me now...
Notre Dame is ripe for development. Any takers? LOL
Here's a McDonalds in Batumi, Georgia. Not your Daddy's Micky Dees.
by Khmaladze Architects
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