107,437 views
The Florio Dream: The Entrepreneurs Who Made Palermo Great. Francesco Lapunzina - Danilo Conti Documentary subject. Near the Palazzina dei Quattro Pizzi, located in the Arenella bay, we will meet Chico Paladino Florio, son of Cecé Paladino, nephew-in-law and universal heir of Vincenzo Florio II. At Villino Florio, instead, we will interview Vincenzo Prestigiacomo, who will briefly tell us about the entrepreneurial exploits of the Florio family: from the grocery store opened in Palermo in 1800 by the Calabrian Paolo Florio, through the tuna fishery, the shipping company, the wine production, the sulphur mines and the armouries. A true commercial empire, which gave work to hundreds of people and transformed Palermo, enhancing its industrious side and making it a city with a European feel. We will be fascinated by the story of a family dedicated not only to industry and transport, but also to politics and culture, through charity and patronage. To illustrate the story we will use archive images, shots taken in today's Palermo and any archive materials (photographs, memorabilia, etc.). Before entering the Palazzina dei Quattro Pizzi, we will ask Chico Paladino for an opinion on the state of the neo-Gothic building, designed in 1836 by Carlo Giachery and recently reopened to the public, and the Arenella district. Once inside, the interview will move on to the "Casa Florio" project, the Tonnara Florio archives and the Vie dei Tesori. In addition to Chico, we will interview Daniela Brignone, who curated an exhibition dedicated to Vincenzo Florio II. We will ask Chico what it means for him to focus on culture and tourism today, and what the challenges are for those who, like him, find themselves wanting to enhance and redevelop portions of the Palermo area. Furthermore, we will ask him what, in his opinion, the role of citizens, entrepreneurs and politics is. With a view to a “redemption” of the city, named Capital of Culture for the year 2018, we will conclude with the auspices for the near future of the city and its project.