Palermo prepares with Elodie for the big concert in the square at Politeama. The motto is security: access permitted, controls and roads closed
Setting up the stage in Piazza Ruggero Settimo for the 2024 New Year's Eve celebrations in Palermo (Photo by Salvo Caruso)
After archiving Christmas, we now only think about New Year's Eve. Palermo is preparing for the big concert in the square at Politeama. The name of the main artist, Elodie, suggests a massive participation of spectators, even from the province, if not from other cities on the island.
The organizational machinery was put into motion for the major event. The first security regulations have been set: a maximum of 9,800 people are allowed access. Over 200 “vigilantes”, including stewards and civil protection personnel, who regulate the flow of traffic and control the entrances.
These are the first rules decided after the meeting on Saturday morning in the prefecture on the rules for New Year's Eve in the square. Pre-filter and filter areas are set up to regulate and manage inputs. The entrance is via Via Dante, Via Ruggero Settimo and Via Libertà. There will be closed streets and pedestrian zones to ease traffic flow.
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“Everything is being arranged for the safety of the event. Further details and information will be established and communicated shortly with the relevant regulations,” explains Councilor Maurizio Carta.
In short, the motto is security. A decision, or perhaps rather a necessity, dictated by recent news events that occurred even just a few steps from the concert venue, from the major brawl that ended in a shootout in Via La Lumia to the murder of a twenty-two-year-old , Rosolino Celesia, at the front of a nightclub.
In short, it is certain that more controls will be used for the event this year.
Rules on the Castelnuovo and Ruggero Settimo courts
The mayor has issued a decree establishing some rules and prohibitions to be respected in Piazza Castelnuovo and Piazza Ruggero Settimo, i.e. the two main squares where the event will take place.
In particular, a bivouac or long-term parking ban will apply in Piazza Castelnuovo and Piazza Ruggero Settimo on December 31st from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
So in this time window it is the same on both places Sitting is forbidden, to lie down or sleep on public land or in publicly used or publicly accessible areas, on thresholds, on floors, on walls, on green areas and on all street furniture. It can be found in the text of the trade union regulations.
From 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on December 31st, only temporary pedestrian passage to other neighboring streets and squares will be permitted.
The measure is taken to – as the text states – “avoid the occupation of the areas around the two plazas in the hours before the start of the events related to the New Year's Eve celebrations, which could cause public safety problems”. . (Read the union regulations).
Rules for Elodie's concert
Another union regulation stipulates rules and standards of conduct for the safety of Elodie's concert. From 1 p.m. on December 31 to 7 a.m. the following day, January 1, the regulation prohibits the sale of liquor and the use of glass and aluminum containers; It is also mandatory to remove the caps from plastic bottles.
Here, too, as with all large public events, there is a ban on carrying criminal items such as suitcases and trolleys; Spray cans; stadium trumpets, weapons, toy weapons, explosives, pyrotechnic devices; Smoke bombs, rockets, stones, knives or other sharp or cutting objects and chains.
Carrying selfie sticks and tripods is also prohibited; Sticks, umbrellas and generally all objects with points.
These bans must be extended to all public operators, both permanent and traveling, operating near and around the concert site. In particular the squares Ruggero Settimo and Castelnuovo; Via Dante, in the section between Via Libertà and Via N. Garzilli; about Filippo Turati; Via Scinà, in the section between Via F. Turati and Piazza Don Rumpfo; Via E. Amari, in the section between Piazza Ruggero Settimo and Via Roma.
They will also come from December 29th Furniture removedPlatforms, dehors, planters and wastebaskets from Piazza Ruggero Settimo, Piazza Castelnuovo, Via Ruggero Settimo from the square to Piazza Regalmici and Via Emerico Amari from Piazza Ruggero Settimo to Via Roma.
The traffic plan: All roads closed
The Municipal Transport and Mobility Office has issued the regulation introducing restrictions on pedestrian and vehicle traffic in Piazza Ruggero Settimo and in the surrounding streets and squares on the occasion of the New Year's Eve celebrations.
Specifically, from Sunday, December 31st, 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 a.m. the following day, parking restrictions (on both sides and with forced evacuation) will be in effect in the following streets and squares:
– PIAZZA CASTELNUOVO: in the section between Via Libertà and Via Dante (including the street behind the Palchetto della Musica, in the extension of Via XX Settembre);
– VIA DANTE: in the section between Piazza Castelnuovo and Via N. Garzilli (excluded)
– VIA GUARINO AMELIA entire route;
– VIA FOLENGO entire route;
– VIA P. PATERNOSTRO, in the section between Via N. Garzilli and Piazza Castelnuovo;
– VIA TURATI entire route;
– Section VIA G. DAITA between Via N. Gallo and Turati;
– VIA PV PANASCIA entire route;
– VIA DELLA LIBERTÀ: mountain road, between Via Carducci and Via Dante; side coastal road, between Piazza Ruggero Settimo and Via N.Gallo; central carriageway, between Piazza Mordini Crispi (excluded) and Piazza R. Settimo/Castelnuovo. Crossing Via Libertà is permitted in the direction of Via Archimede/Via Siracusa.
Parking bans and changes of direction
– VIA N. GALLO, at the intersection with Via Isidoro la Lumia: suspension of the compulsory left direction; left and right directions allowed. In the section from Via G. Daita to Via Liberta: Parking ban with forced eviction on the left side. In the section from Via G. Daita to Via Isidoro la Lumia: Parking ban with forced eviction on the right side
– VIA ISIDORO LA LUMIA – section between Via N. Gallo and Via Turati: establishment of one-way traffic in the direction and in the section, parking ban with compulsory evacuation on the flat sides of the road, compulsory left-hand direction at the intersection with Via Turati;
– VIA DOMENICO SCINÀ – section between Via Turati and Piazza L.Stürzo: establishment of one-way traffic in both directions;
– VIA EMERICO AMARI – Section from Via Roma to Via Wagner: Parking ban with forced eviction on the left side;
– VIA XX SETTEMBRE – Mandatory direction straight ahead, except for residents of Via Carducci and Via XII Gennaio;
– VIA CARDUCCI – No transit, except for residents of Via Carducci and Via XII Gennaio;
– VIA DELLA LIBERTÀ mountain side carriageway, between Via G. Carducci and Via XII Gennaio: establishment of one-way traffic in direction and section; obligatory left direction at the intersection with Via XII Gennaio;
– VIA XII JANUARY – Section between Via Libertà and Via XX Settembre: No parking with removal of the left side.
Closed bike paths
In Via Libertà, traffic on the cycle paths in the Piazza Ruggero Settimo/Piazza Crispi/Piazza Mondini and Piazza Castelnuovo sections will be suspended from 7 a.m. on December 31 and until the end of the need, due to the possible increase in pedestrian traffic due to the measures adopted to make the event possible.
Starting Saturday, December 30, for public safety reasons, bicycle and/or scooter stands will be removed from areas affected by the event, as outlined in the safety plan reviewed by the Provincial Public Entertainment Commission.
For more information and details, see the full ordinance of the Municipality of Palermo.