NAPLES -- Among the local fishermen who bring their daily catch to the Parthenope shores, the majestic Vesuvius that surges high in the background and the Norman Castel dell’Ovo out in the jetty, the Italian city known for its sun and sea will soon see a huge 130-foot artificial tree erected along the seafront just in time for the Christmas holiday festivities.

 The city of Naples has received all necessary permits and the construction of an immense touristic installation entitled N’albero is underway on Via F. Caracciolo at the Rotonda Diaz turnabout.

 The immense Tour Eiffel-like structure, whose tip alone reaches 65 feet in length, will be the temporary home to a commercial centre with local delicacies just 12 above street altitude, a restaurant, with a piano for live music, and a bar all at the first level 23 feet off the ground.

 Reachable by a lift to be installed in the internal part of the pyramid, several terraces both a height of 60 feet and 100 feet will allow visitors to get breath-taking views of the metropolis and the surrounding attractions. 

 After long debate, the maximum number of visitors present on N’albero has been set at 750. Established by the city firemen and Italstage, the company who has been commissioned the job, limited capacity is to include all people present in the food areas and on the terraces located at the three various levels. The total head count will also include visitors present at the bottom floor commercial centre.

 With tickets set at a price of eight euros per person and five euros for discounted tickets (free for children and seniors), a palm-sized counter, described by organizers as an infallible system, with a photocell placed at the foot of the structure, will mark those coming in and those leaving the tower premises.  

 Originally meant as a Christmas tree, the touristic structure now plans on staying open on New Year’s Eve where the official programme for the last night of 2016 will most likely be transmitted, substituting the annual city stage. It will stay open for a period of 90 days and will be visible from the gulf and nearby islands.  

 During the next few days, more than 3,000 plants will equally make their way to the structure and be placed on the tree facades, to give viewers the impression of a real Christmas tree, as will the more than one million lights that change colour.

 Built on a base of cement almost 1,100 sq yards wide, the real issue is security. Calculations have been drawn up by two engineers Fabio Iasevoli of Napoli and Daniele Icaro of Padova, coordinated by Antonello De Luca, professor of Technology at Federico II who was the city consultant for the collapse of Palazzo Guevara di Bovino in Riviera di Chiaia.

 Apart from the tree’s stability, the Swedish company Alimak has also contributed by designing a special lift for N’albero that will be installed on just one column in order to leave ample visibility available from the other sides. Equipped to carry a maximum load of 20 people at a time and reach the third terrace level, the lift has yet to be positioned. For those who suffer from closed in areas, an alternative stairway will lead both to and from the three terraces.

 Amounting to a total price of one million Euros for the erection of N’albero, the commissioned construction company Italstage is in search of around twenty sponsors to cover building costs. Surely an incentive for contributors are the promotional advertisements to be screened on 80 x 40 inch monitors hanging on the structure facades along with information, football matches and Christmas wishes. 

 Will the huge installation hold up? At this point, the city has to wait for the project to arrive to its conclusion. With non-stop work, the count down for the VIP inauguration on Dec.7th and the grand opening to the public during the Dec. 8th Immaculate Conception festivities has begun. 

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