Bureaucratic formalities are partly to blame.
An even bigger problem has been a bitter and lengthy legal battle involving rival companies tendering for the reconstruction project. Good news is at hand, however. In mid-November, La Fenice cleared the final bureaucratic hurdle standing between it and the restart of a reconstruction project due to see the opera house finished for October 1st, 2001. Just as well, too, that La Fenice means the phoenix. Rising from the ashes, even if a little tardily, can be taken for granted.