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| Duomo di San Giorgio, Modica |
At the end of March, I wrote that there seemed to be some hope for Modica's prospects as a tourist venue because at last both the Council and local tour operators had realised the importance of keeping tourist sites open at times when people are actually likely to come.
How disappointing, then, to learn that, although at least 40,000 tourists visited the city over Easter, they could not find help or information because the tourist office was closed. Why? Because it is staffed by council employees, who had taken it for granted that they would not have to work on the bank holidays. Most shops in the old town had also closed on Easter Sunday and Monday [Good Friday is not a holiday in Italy] and at the moment, the newly-formed tourism consortium is being blamed for its "lack of planning" in not having foreseen both situations. Strangely, I am not surprised.
Modica's two cathedrals and the Church of Santa Maria di Betlem - the one with the famous crib - were, however, open and I suppose this fact represents some progress.
There have also been complaints because the promenade at the Marina di Modica had not been cleaned before the holiday but, according to the new director of the Modica retailers' association Ascom, this does not matter because the Marina is only used by locals. Hmm - I wouldn't be so sure of that!
Come on, Modica - wake up!
6 comments:
I suppose it is progress that at least the sites are open now.
Hi, Cherie. Yes, some progress.
I read recently in the GDS that the same thing happened in Palermo and tourists were furious. The excuse is that they don't have money to pay the staff. Do you believe it? :)
Hi, Caramella. I believe it but what I want to know is, what did they spend the money on instead?
At least you don't have tube strikes
True, WW., but we don't have public transport that usually works, either!
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