Florence Divided Over £500m Tram Scheme

Florence, the city that houses a large part of Italy's - and Europe's - cultural heritage, is bitterly divided over plans for new tram lines that would slice through its famous Piazza del Duomo, the cathedral square. The first rails are to be laid next week as part of a €700m (£500m) scheme that would give Florence three lines, running for a total of about 12 miles. The second line would run from the airport through the cathedral square, the Piazza del Duomo.

Paolo Bonaiuti, a Florentine and Silvio Berlusconi's spokesman, who is to run for mayor, said it was "madness to think of putting up poles and overhead cables in one of the world's most beautiful squares". Fears have also been expressed over the vibration that would be caused by the 32 meter-long super-trams as they trundled past Renaissance palazzi and museums housing fragile art works.

But the city council insists every possible step has been taken to limit the effects by "equipping the project with state-of-the-art technology".

The right wing opposition on the council is collecting signatures for a referendum demanding a consultation exercise before the second line is allowed to go ahead. Some 13,000 people have already put their names to a similar petition aimed at blocking line three. This, like line two, would run from the outskirts of Florence into the center.

Giorgio Bonsanti, professor of art restoration at Florence university, claimed the issue was being exploited by the conservatives on the council for electoral purposes. He said: "Currently, 2,000 buses a day pass by the cathedral. I believe the present state of affairs causes far more damage."