Was Cittá Satellite a forgotten dream? Standing before its remnants you might think so. This isn’t just any abandoned amusement park. Cittá Satellite also known as Greenland held a unique place in Italian history.
Imagine its bustling heyday. Created between 1964 and 1965 Cittá Satellite was a pioneering project. It was one of the first permanent urban amusement parks in Italy. Before Greenland only traveling funfairs existed. Giuseppe Brollo a businessman from Treviso had a vision. He wanted to transform land he’d bought from the Borromeo family. His original plan was a modern farm. It evolved into something far grander.
Brollo collaborated with a carousel maker Simeone Sardena. Sardena’s expertise helped shape the park. A company based in Reggio Emilia managed the park. Cittá Satellite spread across a vast 374000 square meters. There was a lake for sport fishing. A bar sat on a central island. A scenic train circled the perimeter. Go-karts rollercoaster rides and typical funfair attractions filled the space. A minigolf course provided more family fun.
During its peak around the mid-1980s Cittá Satellite thrived. New attractions opened regularly. More food stalls were added. Parking expanded. Improved roads made it easy to access. Sadly the 2000s brought a decline. Management issues arose. Safety and hygiene concerns led to trouble. In 2002 during Pasquetta the park was seized.
Ownership disputes added to the problems. In 2008 the park closed again. The go-kart track was ordered demolished. An investigation into parking management was launched. Attempts at redevelopment failed. Parts of the park were demolished in 2018. A new plan in 2020 offered hope for a smaller park cycle paths and parking. That project also fell through. In 2022 the site hosted a music video shoot. Today Cittá Satellite remains mostly abandoned. A symbol of what was and what could have been it awaits a new chapter. It is a tangible reminder of Italy’s past dreams. The forgotten fun of Greenland.