Is it possible that this seemingly ordinary building once played a vital role in Sicily’s ambitious infrastructure projects? This is Cantoniera 2. It’s a testament to a bygone era of road construction and rural development.
During the Fascist period, extensive land reclamation projects were undertaken. Road and railway construction boomed. Urban planning flourished. Angelo Colombo provided a detailed account of public works in Sicily. It was featured in the May 1932 issue of “Le Vie d’Italia”. This was the monthly magazine of the Italian Touring Club. Borgo Regalmici was among the cases examined. The island’s recovery depended on a “true general reclamation.” This idea was linked to Arrigo Serpieri’s concept of complete reclamation. It was implemented with the R.D. February 13, 1933.
The government allocated approximately 350,000,000 Lire for state road repairs. Another 250,000,000 Lire went to new road construction. The State invested 3,000,000,000 Lire in Sicily. Colombo praised the Fascist action. He emphasized that “the problem of roads is the cornerstone of all civil order and progress.”
The A.A.S.S. was established by Law No. 1094 on May 17, 1928. It was created to implement Rome’s planned interventions. The “Azienda autonoma statale della strada” translates to the Autonomous State Road Company. Its first director was Pio Calletti. The company’s job was to manage the technical aspects. It managed the most important state roads. They also handled general reorganization. They were in charge of maintenance and radical road repairs.
The agency took over various roads between July and December 1928. Most of the roads were old. They were in very poor condition. The focus was on “reconstituting the constructive structure.”
The Law gave the A.A.S.S. the necessary operational agility. The Minister of Public Works could make decisions. He did not need additional opinions. The only exception was the opinion of the Company’s Board of Directors.
The company covered approximately 2,058 km of state roads in Sicily. It also managed 4,018 km of provincial roads. They took care of 2,000 km of municipal roads and 10,000 km of royal roads. Around 924 km of roads were maintained in the province of Palermo.
Sicily acquired another 700 km of new communication routes. These included municipal, provincial, and agricultural reclamation roads. The goal was to “remove municipalities or hamlets from isolation” and “provide them with access to stations or ports.” Vincenzo Ullo wrote about creating a new Sicily. He aimed to eliminate “difficulties in transport and the impossibility of rapid communications.”
The construction of Case Cantoniere was entrusted to the A.A.S.S. These houses played a central role in developing connecting routes. These groups of houses were an experiment. The government wanted to settle people permanently. The intention was to have them reside in the new homes after road work finished. Locals were given premises. Their families needed to move to the countryside.
In August 1937, the Popolo di Sicilia presented “the comforting aspects” of the new Cantoniera constructions. The aim was to encourage the masses to leave their “ramshackle houses or barracks.” The goal was to transform the road worker’s role from worker to rural resident.
The A.A.S.S. studied an organic plan for the houses. They wanted to improve those inherited from past administrations. They also wanted to provide new constructions for roads that lacked them. The Company adapted to the specific needs of the locations. They maintained some fundamental elements. These included external coloring, inscriptions, small gardens, and adaptations for storing machinery.
The small groups of Cantoniera in the province of Palermo were not built by the state company. However, they echoed key concepts. They satisfied the sober lines of architecture. They also provided services to the houses. They differed in construction methods and color choices. Originally, none of the nine centers had the typical red color of ANAS houses. Today, only Paratore and Vaccarizzo have the red-ochre color. The houses have been maintained as depots over the years.
The provincial administration planned nine groups of farmhouses for road workers.
Cantoniera 2 stands as a reminder of the ambitions. It also stands as a reminder of the challenges of rural development in Sicily. It embodies a vision of connecting communities and fostering agricultural life.