WOODPECKER, MILANO MARITTIMA. OPENED: 1968. CLOSED: MID-SEVENTIES. ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR AND EXPENSIVE CLUBS IN THE AREA, THE WOODPECKER HAS BEEN REDISCOVERED BY A LOCAL ASSOCIATION THAT HAS ORGANISED SOME MUSICAL EVENTS THERE. THE MUNICIPALITY HAS LAUNCHED A TENDER FOR ITS REDEVELOPMENT, WON BY A LOCAL FAMILY IN 2018. THE GOAL IS TO BUILD A MULTIFUNCTIONAL SPACE. IT WAS EXPECTED TO REOPEN IN 2021, BUT WORKS ARE STILL ONGOING. PHOTO: ELSA MANCINI
ULTIMA IMPERO, TURIN. OPENED: DECEMBER 1992. CLOSED: 2010. AFTER THREE YEARS OF CONSTRUCTION, THE CLUB WAS INAUGURATED WITH A DJ SET OF FAMOUS ITALIAN ARTISTS OF THE TIME, INCLUDING PIETRO VILLA, CLAUDIO COCCOLUTO, CLAUDIO DIVA, STEFANO SECCHI AND MANUEL BAGNOLI. PHOTO: ELSA MANCINI
POGGIO DIANA, PARMA. OPENED: THE 60s. CLOSED: 2009. THIS DISCO CLUB FEATURED TWO DANCE HALLS, A GARDEN, TENNIS COURTS, A GOLF COURSE, A SWIMMING POOL AND A TERRACE. IT HOSTED AN EDITION OF MISS ITALY. IT HAS NOW BECOME A PLACE OF SHELTER FOR THE HOMELESS. PHOTO: ELSA MANCINI
METROPOLIS, LUCCA. OPENED: EARLY 80s. CLOSED: EARLY 90s. THE BUILDING WAS SOLD IN 2021 AFTER FIFTEEN AUCTION ATTEMPTS. PHOTO: ELSA MANCINI.
ADELAYDE, FERRARA. OPENED: LATE 60s. CLOSED: 2017. A SYMBOL FOR PAST GENERATIONS THAT MARKED THE HISTORY OF THE ENTIRE CITY. AFTER SEVERAL UNSUCCESSFUL AUCTIONS, THE BUILDING WAS SOLD IN 2000. PHOTO: SIMONE NANETTI
MAJORCA, LODI. OPENED: THE 60S. CLOSED: 2005. THIS PLACE HOSTED CONCERTS BY ITALIAN POP ICONS LIKE PATTY PRAVO, LUCIO DALLA, AND RICCARDO COCCIANTE. MANY PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN AN INTEREST IN THE BUILDING FOR VARIOUS PROJECTS, BUT IT IS STILL IN A STATE OF DECAY. PHOTO: ELSA MANCINI
MICHELANGELO DA VINCI, ROVIGO. OPENED: SUMMER OF 2000. CLOSED: 2014. THIS FORMER CLUB AND RESTAURANT WAS ALSO NICKNAMED “THE PLANES”: ITS PECULIARITY LIES IN THE FACT THAT THE DINING ROOM AND KITCHEN ARE LOCATED INSIDE TWO AEROPLANES, A DOUGLAS DC-6 AND A TUPOLEV TU-134A. PHOTO: SIMONE NANETTI
EXPO, VICENZA. OPENED: 1992. CLOSED: EARLY 2000. THIS HISTORIC CLUB FOR THE LOCAL NIGHTLIFE WAS ALMOST REOPENED AROUND THE YEAR 2000. IT NOW STILL LIES IN RUINS. PHOTO: SIMONE NANETTI
