Sant'Antonio Abate: The municipality begins the "clearance" of the Castle of Ceremonies.

Sant'Antonio Abate – The curtain is about to fall on the "Castle of Ceremonies," and this time not for the sake of a television script. The eviction order for the "La Sonrisa" restaurant and hotel, notified last May, has officially entered its enforcement phase.

With a resolution approved on Monday, July 20, the municipal council of Sant'Antonio Abate—led by Mayor Ilaria Abagnale—significantly accelerated the ordinance evicting the historic complex founded by Don Antonio Polese from the land it has occupied for over half a century.

The Municipality's plan: inventory, deposits and surveillance

The measure approved by the Abate administration is immediately implementable and outlines a stringent timetable. Operational priorities include taking physical possession of the entire property, a detailed inspection of the assets present, and the creation of an inventory of everything found within the lavish reception rooms.

To store the complex's furnishings and equipment, dedicated storage spaces will be designated, while the entire area will be under constant surveillance. This is a complex logistical operation, the costs of which will not impact public coffers: the resolution establishes that the costs of removing, transporting, and storing the assets will be entirely covered by the current occupants.

Forced eviction and the unknown of the future

The approval of the act provides the Municipality with all the legal tools to proceed, if necessary, even with forced eviction, with the support of law enforcement and in the absence of the owners. There will be a limited timeframe for ownership and management: movable property transferred to municipal warehouses may be reclaimed by the rightful owners within a maximum of 30 days. After this time limit, the landfill disposal procedure will be initiated, with the occupants still responsible for the costs.

However, several questions remain regarding the fate of the area located at the foot of the Lattari Mountains. On the legal front, the hearing for the appeal filed with the Regional Administrative Court (TAR) is awaited. On the urban planning and social front, the outcome of the feasibility study commissioned in June is awaited. This document will determine the path forward: from demolition to a change of use.

In the midst of this, the workers' struggle remains, as they have been demanding guarantees for months to safeguard jobs and keep the facility's hospitality business afloat.