Rome mayor lists aims achieved and projects for the future in his fourth Report to the City.
Rome mayor Roberto Gualtieri on Friday delivered his fourth Report to the City, an annual update on achievements, future plans and challenges in the Italian capital.
During his speech, which lasted about one hour and 45 minutes, the centre-left mayor outlined a long list of objectives completed over the past year, including the flagship Piazza Pia underpass – built for the Vatican’s Jubilee Year – and the reconstruction of the Ponte di Ferro bridge which was destroyed by fire in 2021.
Among those present in the auditorium’s packed Sala Sinopoli were representatives of trade unions and business groups, as well as Roman actor Carlo Verdone, who on 17 November will become ‘mayor of Rome’ for one day.
Torre dei Conti
Gualtieri, elected in 2021, began his address at the Auditorium Parco della Musica with a minute’s silence for Octav Stroici, the 66-year-old Romanian worker who died due to the partial collapse of the Torre dei Conti on Monday.
Superintendency technicians are seeking to identify the work required to make the 13th-century tower safe, the mayor said, adding that the city will do “everything possible” so that families and businesses can return as soon as possible to the homes and premises they had to evacuate.
Gualtieri said the fact that the city had to wait for PNRR funds (Italy’s recovery and resilience plan) to start the “essential structural consolidation works, despite the fact that the tower has been unusable since 2007, however, leaves a bad taste in the mouth, and tells us that the culture of protection and continuous maintenance of our archaeological heritage still has to make great progress in our country”.
Public transport
“The two new jewel-like stations on the new Metro C line: Colosseo and Porta Metronia, are ready to open”, Gaultieri said, noting that a press preview scheduled this week had been postponed due to the city’s mourning for Octav Stroici.
Gualtieri, 59, revealed that those passing through the new Metro C station at the Colosseum will be able to see the remains of a private Roman residence.
He also demanded “with utmost firmness” that the Meloni government reverse “immediately” a €50 million cut to the Metro C, as outlined in the 2026 budget.
In relation to the tram network – currently out of service – Gualtieri said the city was ready for “a historic turning point”, with the first of 121 new trams arriving next month and works underway on the new Togliatti tramway.
Waste-to-energy plant
Work is continuing towards the construction of a giant waste-to-energy incinerator, to tackle the city’s rubbish disposal, on a 10-hectare site in an industrial area of Santa Palomba to the south of Rome.
“The plant will process 600,000 tons of non-recyclable waste per year, produce energy for 200,000 families, recover precious metals, and use technologies that guarantee emissions well below European limits”, Gualtieri stated, adding that the city has signed an agreement with the Italian Railways to allow waste to be transported by train.
Social housing
Gualtieri said his administration has set itself the goal of building 32,000 social housing units in the coming years, in a “massive effort” to be carried out in collaboration between the public and private sectors.
Crime
After expressing thanks for the solidarity shown to him following recent threats, Gualtieri said: “I can assure you that we will never back down. Together with the authorities, police, magistrates, local communities, honest entrepreneurs and a multitude of associations, we will drive the mafia out of Rome”.
Culture
Gualtieri said that the city was moving forward with the redevelopment of Piazza Augusto Imperatore, along with the new archaeological walk, with work on the first section of Via dei Fori Imperiali set to begin this month.
Teatro Valle, long closed after a lengthy occupation and currently under restoration, will open next autumn and “will be one of Rome’s most admirable symbols of cultural regeneration”, Gualtieri said.
“We want to build a new economy of beauty and creativity around culture, one that will generate quality employment, especially in the suburbs,” the mayor added, citing projects such as the Teatro dell’Opera dance and choir school in Tor Marancia.
Tourism
“The push for investment [in tourism] is generating record employment figures” – Gualtieri said – “In 2024, employment increased by 118,000 compared to 2021, the best figure in the last 10 years. The key issue remains: increasing the quality and stability of jobs, wages and security. The Jubilee leaves us a legacy of collaboration between institutions, unions and employers’ associations that represents a key to the future.”
Swimming in the Tiber
“We must think big for our Tiber”, Gualtieri said, renewing a commitment to making the river suitable for swimming and navigation, describing it “an ambitious but achievable goal”.
Stadiums
Gualtieri is optimistic about the construction of the new stadiums for AS Roma and Lazio: “The Roma stadium in Pietralata is a major project that we want to complement with the restoration of the Flaminio stadium and a new home for Lazio, with whom there is open dialogue.”
‘Fake news’ about trees
The mayor hailed “a real leap forward” in terms of greenery maintenance in Rome: “Since 2024, weeding and mowing of roadside areas has been entrusted to [waste collection agency] AMA, and as many as 100 teams of three operators are operational every day”.
Gualtieri hit out at the “fake news” about trees being chopped down all over the city, saying the numbers speak for themselves.
“In 2020, Rome allocated just €6.7 million to greenery; today, those resources have more than tenfold. Inspections and pruning are now ten times higher than in the past, and obviously no healthy or curable tree is cut down because Rome respects and loves trees.”
International press
Gualtieri also looked at Rome through the eyes of the international media.
“Rome was a national disgrace, with photos of piles of garbage shared on websites all over the world. La grande bruttezza” – the mayor said – “In three years, we have achieved a lot. Our reputation has changed, and foreign newspapers are back talking about the beauty of Rome.”
Photo Roberto Gualtieri X
