A Bridge Too Far? Sicily Link Revived After 2,000 Years

For more than 2,000 years, it has been an obsessive dream: a plan to link the Mediterranean Sea's largest island to mainland Italy. It began with the Romans, who, according to the Guardian, acc — and now officials have revived it.

The Guardian reports that the Roman dream of building a structure over the strait of Messina has been revived by officials, despite claims it is unworkable and protests from locals. The proposal would connect Sicily to the Italian mainland across the narrow channel that separates the island from Calabria.

The plan has a long and contested history. The Guardian notes that it has been a recurring ambition for centuries, with the latest revival facing the same criticisms that have dogged previous attempts: doubts about its technical feasibility, its cost, and the disruption it would cause to the communities on either shore.