"Former Arena Giardino Demolished while Bari Proclaims Itself Mediterranean Capital of Cinema" by Carlo Coppola
The concrete screen of Arena Giardino has been quietly torn down. No ceremony, no official statement, no protests from associations, no political outcry—no words at all. Just an excavator at work in Bari’s Libertà district , while other, far more decayed structures continue to blight the surrounding area, contributing to urban degradation, infestations, and traffic obstruction. And yet, the neighborhood—rightly—seeks renewal and emancipation. Perhaps the real question is: who truly wants that renewal, and at what cost? All this unfolds while, not far away, the Bif&st – Bari International Film & TV Festival 2026 edition celebrates cinema with lifetime achievement awards and welcomes internationally renowned film stars. There is something unmistakably ironic about this coincidence. The demolition took place on an ordinary day, between March 21 and 28, in near-total indifference—almost at the very same moment Bari presents itself as a southern capital of cinema, a Mediterranean h...
