“From indifference to attention for these jewels of ours” these were the words of the President of the Calabria Region, Mario Oliverio, during the press conference held yesterday, Thursday 7 June, at the Cittadella in Catanzaro, presenting a project for the tourist and cultural enhancement of Calabrian villages.
The project has a budget of 100 million euro for public operations and 14 million euro for private operations, using FSC and CAP Calabria 2014/2020 resources. The project is the result of a decision to revitalise villages that have suffered gradual depopulation in the past, and aims to promote small towns that are the guardians of tradition, history and culture at an international level.
The project is designed to promote the development of small towns and villages that have been depopulated in the past.
“The idea is to make the villages a great attraction for widespread tourism, to make them places of new forms of hospitality intended for a target of demand, intercepting diversified niches of tourists far from the schemes of mass tourism and more passionate about slow tourism. Calabria’s villages are an asset and a tourist attraction to be exploited, also in connection with the growing attention to the authentic, traditional and identity dimension of the places chosen for holidays.” – Mario Oliverio
The funds earmarked will be used to encourage widespread tourist accommodation by rehabilitating housing units, supporting local restaurants, providing qualified services to support tourist activities and improving sports facilities.
The President called for the funding to be made available to the local authorities for the purpose of promoting the development of tourism.
The President has requested an effort of creativity from local authorities and cultural structures in order to make the most of these resources by using actions aimed at the rediscovery of Calabrian identities and traditions through the enhancement of villages, of which Calabria can boast 18 certified, including 13 of the most beautiful villages in Italy. These resources, thanks to a 360-degree approach, will be committed through simplified calls for tenders, which will be made public by the end of June through an online platform.
“We want to take a census of and give value to this immense heritage, which is not even known to the people of Calabria, and create the conditions for moving from a culture of indifference to one of attention to these jewels of ours. – Mario Oliverio
Many of the mayors and representatives of village associations at the event praised the project. Even the regional coordinator of The Most Beautiful Villages of Italy, Bruno Cortese (former mayor of the village of Santa Severina), expressed appreciation for the initiative through the words of the national coordinator of The Most Beautiful Villages of Italy, Fiorello Primi:
Santa Severina).
“Calabria, with 100 million in resources, is the first region in Italy to choose to invest in its villages with courage and a clear strategic vision.
The conference was also attended by the regional managers in charge of the sector, Tommaso Calabrò (planning) and Mimmo Schiava (cultural heritage).
