Webuild CEO Pietro Salini: Michelangelo's Farnese Bridge suspended over Tiber river a symbol of hope

ROME, July 1, 2021 - 'The Webuild Group builds projects that last through time, and this beautiful initiative of the Ponte Farnese over the Tiber (River) - virtually and physically - is, for us, a sign of hope. It allows us to relive the history of the Renaissance that allowed Rome to become a great city, thanks to enlightened clients like Pope Giulio II or Pope Paolo III Farnese, both of whom imagined extraordinary works. Their legacy has travelled across centuries to reach us intact, reminding us today that we must not condemn building. On the contrary, it is necessary to design and build great infrastructure and works of art that have the ability to improve the lives of people,' Pietro Salini, Chief Executive of the Webuild Group, told a news conference presenting the artistic event that will occur in the heart of Rome and on the Tiber River.

The Farnese Bridge, designed by Michelangelo more than 500 years ago but never completed, will be built in a matter of a few days in a sustainable way under the eyes of Rome's citizens. The Bridge will be done thanks to an exclusive sponsorship from Webuild, the latest in a series of art initiatives being promoted by the French Embassy in Italy to mark the start of restoration work on the Farnese Palace, the seat of the Embassy since 1936.

'The Webuild Group has built 1,000 kilometres of bridges in the world, and we are here today as sponsors because art and culture are like bridges because they create connections that are not always physical. We believe in the value of building collective sustainable works. Just like the Genova-San Giorgio Bridge, which we had the honour to build. It is a symbol of hope that showed the strength of Italians who knew how to respond to an emergency such as the pandemic, highlighting the importance of collaboration,' Salini concluded.

French artist Olivier Grossetête will build the bridge with environmentally sustainable materials over the river between the monumental Sisto and Mazzini bridges. As of July 13, the ephemeral art installation will remain suspended above the waters of the Tiber for five days with the support of three large helium balloons. Residents and tourists will be able to take part in assembling the bridge after taking a series of workshops led by Grossetête after signing up via a dedicated website: www.pontefarnese.org.