Project
Borghi in Piazza – Spirit of the East in the West
Riace, Stilo, Pazzano: three villages in Calabria where stones tell ancient stories, Byzantine domes brush the sky, and hospitality is a daily gesture. Here, the East has left its mark on language, urban design, the taste of wine and olive oil, music, and festivals. From these shores emerged the world famous Riace Bronzes, icons of a land that has always been in dialogue with the Mediterranean.
Our vision
Bringing new centrality to these villages through culture, nature, and hospitality. We want to help people rediscover the many identities of these communities, highlighting what makes them unique: the Byzantine and Catholic heritage expressed in the Cattolica of Stilo, in hermitages, monasteries, and “laure”; the wild beauty of Mount Consolino, the Serre forests, the biodiversity of the Stilaro valley and the Jasmine Coast; Calabria’s glorious mining and ironworking past; and, of course, the warm conviviality of its people.
“Borghi in Piazza”
In our villages, the square is still an agorà, the place where streets, church, and daily life come together. We want these squares to once again be the beating heart of the community and a meeting point for travelers in search of authenticity, traditions, outdoor adventures, culture, and food & wine experiences.
How we generate impact
Through the project “Borghi in Piazza – Spirit of the East in the West”, we are building awareness and connections that will benefit residents first, while opening our villages to the world. Our main initiatives include:
- Sharing and mapping Heritage: telling stories of our natural and cultural treasures, creating itineraries, and spreading beauty and knowledge through a digital network at local and national level.
- Creating a widespread system of Info Points: not only at main tourist attractions, but also in B&Bs, shops, and trattorias, turning every place into a hub for information and exchange.
- Expanding tourism opportunities: strengthening outdoor activities, promoting diffused hospitality with a network of guesthouses and home restaurants, extending the tourist season with year-round events.
- Investing in training: from professional skills to an ITS post-diploma course, creating new opportunities for young people.
- Supporting agriculture and organics: developing the local supply chain in partnership with the Bio District of the Serre.
- Improving connectivity: bringing fast internet to residents, businesses, smart workers, and travelers.
Guidelines for regeneration
- Culture & Experiences: cultural, religious, and experiential tourism of quality.
- Nature & Biodiversity: slow itineraries, respect for the environment.
- Youth & Skills: training, creativity, entrepreneurship.
- Rural & Food & Wine: local products, ancient grape varieties, authentic cuisine.
- Hospitality & Seasonality: more beds, longer stays, coordinated services.
- Digital: geolocated map, integrated booking system, smart working and international promotion.
Expected benefits
- More local jobs, especially for young people and women.
- Countering depopulation by creating opportunities to live and work locally.
- Cultural growth through events, training, and shared experiences.
- Increased tourism flows with higher quality hospitality.
- Sustainability through circular economy practices and coordinated mobility between villages and the coast.
For whom
For those who seek the authentic Calabria: curious travelers, families, hikers and cyclists, lovers of sacred art and archaeology, admirers of the winter sea, smart workers and digital nomads, students and researchers.
PNRR – Ministry of Culture. Mission 1 – Component 3 (M1C3) – Investment 2.1 “Attractiveness of Villages” – Line B – PROJECT: “Borghi in Piazza – Spirit of the East in the West” – ACTION LINE 3.2 Initiatives for the protection and promotion of intangible cultural heritage – INTERVENTION 2 – Digitalization of the territory, economic and cultural operators, creation of the “Map of Wonders” and a thematic digital tourism hub – CUP: F49I22000220006
