Aquila D'Oro

2024-10-17 by Unokay Comics

Tags: Frieze

This cartoon was inspired by watching too many Wes Anderson films.

Panel 1: A grand hotel on a hill with a terrace surrounded by trees. The text reads: Albergo Aquila D’Oro is one of the finest hotels on the Amalfi coast with beautiful gardens stretching down to the sea. All this changed in 1929 when the government constructed a 12-lane motorway cutting off the hotel from the beach.
Panel 2: The hotel terrace leads to an classical bridge which spans 6 lanes of traffic. The text reads: Undaunted, the hotel commissioned a footbridge to allow guests to safely get to and from the beach. The bridge was a great success with guests and local residents who would be seen every evening in their finest attire for the traditional passeggiata.
Panel 3: The classical bridge ends with a small church. Then a modern footbrdge spans another 6 lanes of traffic. The footbridge has posters advertising Pirelli. The text reads: The upper bridge includes a small church where guests could stop to take communion on Sundays. In 1934, visitors to the church were treated to an impromptu recital by the tenor Beniamino Gilgi, who was staying at the hotel. The 1970s saw a decline in the hotel’s fortunes In 1973, the entire lower bridge had to be demolished. Later rebuilt with some funding from the Pirelli tyre company.
Panel 4: The modern footbridge ends at the beach with many people on th ebeach and in the sea. The text reads: The former hotel and its bridge is now just a curiosity for travellers on the A3 from Salerno. The local community did apply for UNESCO world heritage status, but the committee felt that the modern replacement bridge section wasn’t in keeping with the ambition of the original neo-classical design.

Link to this cartoon: https://unokay.com/aquila-doro

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