The eucalyptus tree in Via di Tullio is not only a traffic divider.
The residents of the characteristic neighborhood of Bari are also divided by their opinion on the tree standing smack in the middle of the lane. Some say it should be chopped down, as it allegedly causes difficulties in bus circulation and may put the lives of the drivers at risk.
Others defend the plant – standing at a 20-meter (65’7”) height – indeed for its unique position that has made it become an icon. Legend tells that the tree sits enthroned since the 1940s, when an American soldier planted it before returning to his country, as homage to the poor locals shattered by the war.
The eucalyptus seems to not worry about the discussion all that much; it has already put its foot down… literally.
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