A "Revolution" in the Market

Il Tirreno Giornale
(PISA, Italia, Friday September 29 th 2000 )

Fabio Demi In the numerous stalls in the city, 107 billion lire are spent a year ($ 53.5 million US). Novelties in sight of Plaza of the Cathedral, Armory, and San Martino The City, figures at hand, is thinking about the Plan of Commerce in Public Areas. PISA. 107 billion lire. This is the notable figure that, according to the City, circulates every year in the markets of Pisa (comprised of the different markets developed in the city). An enormous billing, in short, that gives an idea of the importance of the varied markets, from the greatest to the smallest, within our economic and commercial fabric. And this Plan of Commerce for Public Areas, that the town administration is preparing to discuss, cannot be considered an argument of second order. All aspects will be explored for the future of these markets.

Piazza delle Vettovaglie (Punto Reflex)

For Plaza of the Cathedral, for instance, the alderman of commerce, Giovanni Viale, wishes to apply the Ronchey decree, with the consequence of expulsion of the stalls from the plaza. And the St. Martino market will surely be transfered, while in Plaza of the Armory the vendors will have to leave the loggias. The offer of the markets to the Pisanis is more than enough. We are the verteces of Tuscany. Therefore, according to Viale, the problem is not to strengthen the markets, but to rationalize them and to retrain them. We see the situation mercahnt by merchantt, as it emerges from a socio-economic study commissioned by the City. Biweekly market. The research has been made when the market of Wednesday and Saturday was still in Street Buonarroti. The annual billing is an abundant 33 billion, of which 15 billion, 800 million Wednesday and 17 billion and 865 million Saturday. There are 228 vendors. Every day, on average, about 9 thousand people visit, with a median stay of almost an hour and a median expense of about 36 thousand lire ($ 18 US). The data, in a big way, should be valuable too after the new position to the parking lot in Street Brennero. Plaza of the Cathedral. With its 33 billion, 373 million annual billing, it is the richer city market. There are 100 stalls. Of these, 56 must be moved according to the Ronchey decree. Where will they go? It is not certain in wide Cocco Griffi and in the hospital area, because those projects have been delayed. And then? The decision will be made in concert between the City and the associations. It won't be easy. Plaza of the Armory. The annual billing is more than 10 and a half billion. There are 37 stalls, with a daily median of about 2 thousand visitors, and a median expense of more than 25 thousand lire. The idea of the Commune is to assemble the stalls of alimentary products in wide San Omobono and to leave in the Plaza of the Armory only those of non-alimentary. But these last stalls will have to be out of the loggias and, with the day now determined, they should leave the plaza free for other activities. Market of sVia San Martino. 40 stalls, selling 3 billion, 700 million a year (about 1 billion and a half Wednesday, 2 billion, 200 million Saturday). It will probably be moved, and the days could also change. Being coincident with the principal market, in fact, penalizes it. It is not excluded that it will be incorporated with the market of Pisanova. Market of Pisanova. Mondays. Selling about 233 million a year. 18 stalls, 345 people average, almost 14 thousand lire average purchases, a small market, therefore. If the choice of the City is to re-estabnlish the markets of the district, there will be space for an expansion. Monthly market of the Antiquariato. Almost 6 billion annual billing (Sunday and a little more on Saturday). 120 stalls, average presence of 5,347 visitors, median stay of an hour and ten minutes, average spent more than 36 thousand lire. The market is moved a bit in the zone of Piazza dei Cavalieri and it enjoys good success. Markets of Riglione, Tirrenia and Marina. In all, they have an annual billing of little more than 4 billion (Marina 2 billion, 200; Tirrenia 1 billion, 800; Riglione 137 million). Fiere.The Fair, in total, has an annual sales of about 8 billion. The market of Christmas more than a billion; followed by the Fair of the First of May (Fiera del Primo Maggio) 302 milion; fair of San Ranieri (Fiera di San Ranieri) 173 milioni; Fiera di Sant'Ubaldo 113 milioni; Fiera dell'Ascensione (98 milioni) and several others.

Translated by Gary Feuerstein, 1 October 2000, from the Il Tirreno article