Another idea of being, of experiencing the territory and the community. Think about life outside of it clichés but not for this reason outside of time and contemporary and which aims, on the contrary, to think about a more sustainable future and to create it on a human scale, respecting the relationship between man and the environment that surrounds him. This will be the theme of the eighth edition of the National Day of Authentic Italian Villages which will take place on Saturday 12 October 2024 in villages spread across the peninsula and belonging to the Association of Authentic Italian Villages (BAI), with . calendar of events that will continue until 20 October 2024.
The performance, organized by the Association of Authentic Italian Villages with the patronage of Anci – National Association of Italian Municipalities, the Italian Association of Responsible Tourism, Amodo – Sweet Mobility Alliance, Legacoop and Legambiente, like every year, it also wants to be an exhortation to judge projects and initiatives that promote the development of collective responsibility and encourage active participation in community life, through opportunities for socialization and activities related to citizens , enhancing everyone’s contribution. .
This year’s theme is wish to celebrate the communities that make the villages vibrant places, able to withstand time thanks to the strength of participation. It emphasizes the social experiences that citizens, whether they are living or temporary, offer a different idea of being in the villages. A call to action, individual and plural, to embrace change and build a new way of life, made unique and unrepeatable precisely through a composition that unites the community, stimulating ideas and projects that make the villages vital and vibrant: places not common but authentic, different from any stereotype.
An important novelty for 2024 is the partnership with Federtrek – Hiking and Environment, a social promotion body created to spread the culture of walking and the organizer of Walking Day, which will take place on the dates Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 October 2024 and which will take place every Thousands of people across Italy through routes that cross the streets of cities and villages, including those that are part of the network of Authentic Italian Villages.
“Father Trek – comment on the national president Alessandro Piazzi – she considers that the synergy between the two days is an important opportunity to come together, in order to reaffirm the centrality of the Villages and the Villages in the development policies of the internal areas”. Indeed, the link between villages and paths has always been very close: through a simple daily practice, paths allow you to discover the urban environment and its beauty from a different perspective, revealing a different way of experiencing spaces, one more slow and adapted to the person.
“National Authentic Villages Day – explains Rosanna Mazzia, national president of the Association of Authentic Italian Villages – it is an event that takes place regularly every year but is never the same for the subjects covered, because every year they aim to bring to mind contemporary, exciting and concrete themes, in order to give a good opportunity to to get to know those purposes, to encourage the meeting between different experiences. Here we are talking about an unprecedented energy for inhabited villages, an energy that draws its reason for being directly from the villages themselves, so that local communities are active and proactive. At the same time, we want to express another way of being there, since the villages must not be seen as tourist destinations, but as an aspect and a contemporary context of being and living for residents and tourists alike , who are considered temporary citizens. In this way the Association aims to improve local communities through people, and to develop the energy found within the villages which is often dormant and latent. A tool that encourages the related municipalities, in order to be the main stimulus of hospitality that lasts throughout the year and to promote a trip that is not limited to seasonality, but is a journey within a journey. A way to live, to be, to get to know the territory of Italy and its hidden energy”.
As mentioned, there are many events on the program, which can satisfy the widest possible range of needs and attract the interest of a large and diverse audience.. They range from the presentation of the results obtained on October 12 and 13 in Ormea (Cuneo) to the evaluation of Serrastretta mountain (Catanzaro) on October 20, from the reconstruction of the environment of the Maiella bandit in Torricella Peligna (Chieti) on October 12 to to the fourth edition of the Festival of Figurative Arts and Poetry in Modolo (Oristano) on October 19 and 20, but the events planned for the individual villages will be truly numerous and varied.
“The Anci He argues with conviction – is the opinion of the head of the Department of Culture-Tourism-Agriculture Vincenzo Santoro – The National Day of Authentic Villages, a time when many small municipalities will reveal their treasures and many of the citizens will be actively mobilized and represent the many initiatives that have been put in place to improve them in real ways honest and original”.
“This year, Legacoop he enthusiastically joins Borghi Autentici d’Italia to celebrate the National Day of Authentic Villages. Born – emphasizes Paolo Scaramuccia, who is responsible for local development policies, community cooperatives and association services of the Association of Cooperatives – many years ago to promote and join some of the first community cooperatives, our collaboration continues today, fueled by the same spirit of sharing and supported by a common commitment, which is perfectly expressed in the theme of this year. Regarding the different roles – the institutional role of Borghi Authenti d’Italia, the more entrepreneurial role of Legacoop, which represents cooperation as a democratic, inclusive and deeply rooted in communities – the common commitment to build together innovative models of citizenship, administration participating and sharing. We are indeed convinced that this is the most effective way to help the community create value, making the benefits available to everyone. To be more of a place where residents, but anyone who wants to participate, can feel an integral part.”
“Legambiente – explains Alessandra Bonfanti, Head of small Municipalities – who are committed together with the mayors of the small municipalities to ask for more attention to the institutions and specific harmonious policies that will be able to solidify the quality of the communities that live there. The villages, of which the BAI is a fundamental representative, are the main impetus for the ecological transition of the entire country. It is essential to continue the collective commitment to address the reasons behind the ongoing depopulation and abandonment, working to ensure that the new generations remain living in the villages. It is now necessary to invest in urban regeneration but also in social innovation with new personal services and new social spaces, new models of living and customized digital citizenship services, new forms of work residency based on the green economy and energy democracy with renewable energy. “.
“Italian Association for Responsible Tourism – comments by Vice President Paola Autore – and it is with great pleasure that its patronage has been granted for the 2024 edition of the National Day of Authentic Italian Villages. The villages are a great historical, cultural and touristic asset of our country; therefore, activities that favor their economic development, the creation of employment opportunities, the quality of services for their communities and hospitality aimed at visitors, who appreciate the beauty of art, the authenticity of the products, the local art, traditions”.
“This year too – he adds Anna Donati, spokesperson for Amodo (Sweet Mobility Alliance) – BAI Day comes to experience and reflect on the rare places that are made up of towns, villages and inland areas. A commitment to be innovative and to promote solutions that can integrate the needs of the people who live in an area every day, with the needs of the people who regularly come to those places up to travelers who want to gain new experiences and knowledge . Considering these different needs means talking about services for the population, the local economies and the receiving system – which includes schools, health services, digital and transport networks, heritage recovery and reuse and the reception system – in their key words. A commitment made by the BAI throughout the year to support local communities for a sustainable future”.