In Genoa, Charlotte de Witte gets 20,000 people dancing in the city center

The techno scene took over the historic heart of Genoa for one night only. On Saturday, April 11, Piazza Matteotti, located opposite the Doge's Palace, was transformed into a giant open-air dance floor to host a DJ set by Charlotte de Witte. The event drew an impressive crowd, estimated at over 20,000 people in total, a mix of electronic music enthusiasts, locals, tourists, and families.

A historic square transformed into a giant dance floor

By late afternoon, the organizers had anticipated a large crowd, with controlled access and security measures in place several hours before the start of the set, which began around 7 p.m. According to the municipality, approximately 8,000 people were in the square at any given time, while the continuous flow of visitors pushed the overall attendance well beyond that.

The diversity of the audience was a defining feature of the evening. Far from being an event reserved for club regulars, the gathering attracted an intergenerational crowd. From young people to families and curious passersby, everyone came together in a festive atmosphere, transforming the city center into a kind of large-scale urban rave.

A cultural and political operation to revitalize the city

Invited at the initiative of Genoa's mayor, Silvia Salis, the Belgian DJ hailed it as a memorable experience. On her social media, she confessed to being at a loss for words to describe the evening, mentioning an audience "of all ages" united by the music and a rare atmosphere of shared experience.

The event is part of a broader municipal strategy to revitalize the city, particularly in the cultural and tourism sectors. The stated objective is to offer initiatives capable of attracting a new audience to a city often perceived as aging. After years marked by difficulties, including the collapse of the Morandi Bridge in 2018, Genoa is thus seeking to renew its image by focusing on popular and unifying events.