Rome on Thursday held a farewell
party for its famously mangy Christmas Tree, Spelacchio.
After a month or so in the central Piazza venezia where its
'toilet-brush' appearance initially spurred analogies to the
capital's threabare administration, the decoration will return
to its native Val di Fiemme in northern Italy where it will be
carved up and made into a hut for mothers to feed babies.
"Spelacchio represents an example of creative recycling,"
said Rome's environment councillor, Pinuccia Montanari.
Rome also plans to make a book out of all the wishes that
have been pinned to the tree since it became a major tourist
attraction, she said.
Rome Mayor Virginia Raggi said the once-derided tree, seen as
a symbol of Roman woes ranging from potholed streets to poor
public transport and urban blight, "has won the love and
affection of most people over time" .
Recalling the world news headlines it has generated, she said
"it has become an international star, and now it will become an
example of recycling and re-use".
One block of the tree will also be handed over to an artist
to be remodelled and go on permanent show, the mayor said.
Councillor Montanari said Spelacchio will now gain
fresh fame as "the symbol of a circular economy, ever more
necessary for Rome's future and that of the new generations".
First slammed for its high cost and lack of pine needles,
Spelacchio gradually gathered defenders and ended its
days as a 'tree of desires' on which selfie-snapping tourists
posted their wishes.
Italy's anti-corruption authority has opened a probe into its
cost and the failure to rotate tree suppliers.
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