EMILIA-ROMAGNA
Sicily Bridge Dream Revived, But Emilia-Romagna Knows the Real Cost
A 2,000-year-old plan to link Sicily to the mainland is back, as flood-prone regions question the price of grand projects
Giulia Benati420 wordsEdition №92Sunday, 23 August 2026 — Edition № 92
For more than 2,000 years, the idea of a bridge linking Sicily to mainland Italy has been an obsessive dream, according to a detailed report in the Guardian. The plan, which dates back to the Romans, has been revived once again by officials, despite long-standing claims that it is unworkable and vocal protests from local residents.
The Guardian's report, published this week, notes that the project has been a recurring ambition for centuries, with each generation of politicians resurrecting the proposal. The latest revival comes amid renewed government interest, though critics argue the engineering challenges and costs remain prohibitive.
While the bridge would physically connect the island to Calabria, its implications ripple far beyond the Strait of Messina. For regions like Emilia-Romagna, which has its own battles with infrastructure and climate resilience, the debate is a familiar one: how to balance grand visions with the practical needs of a changing landscape.
