Revitalizing villages: the case of “Cesi Porta delle Meraviglie”

The event titled “Revitalizing Villages: the case of Cesi Porta delle Meraviglie” will take place on Monday, June 29, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., at the San Michele Arcangelo Auditorium in Cesi. The meeting is dedicated to the enhancement and relaunch of Italian villages through innovative tourism and territorial development strategies. It will be an opportunity to explore the path undertaken by Cesi, a hamlet of the Terni municipality, which in recent years—thanks to a €20 million funding package from the “Bando Borghi” initiative—has launched and now nearly completed an integrated process of urban, cultural, and social regeneration. The project stands as a concrete example of how small towns can become attractive, livable, and sustainable places.

The session will be moderated by Omero Mariani from the Tourism Office of the Comune di Terni. Speakers will include: Tiziana Laudadio, Councillor for Tourism of the Comune di Terni; Sergio Anibaldi, Councillor of the Comune di Terni responsible for the PNRR; Federico Nannurelli, Director of the Comune di Terni and Sole Project Manager; Alessandro Dimiziani, President of the Umbria branch of I Borghi più belli d’Italia; and Giancarlo Dall’Ara, President of ADI and expert in village marketing and hospitality.

At the heart of the conference will be a reflection on the future of Italian villages, a complex topic and a challenge with both strengths and weaknesses. Villages are not in decline—quite the opposite. In recent years, a trend of rediscovery, enhancement, and revival has become increasingly established. Among the current challenges is the need to move beyond simple excursion-based tourism, and instead focus on hospitality and quality of life. This is possible by investing in those who live in the village and, above all, by implementing a coordinated governance approach—precisely the choice made by Cesi.

The event will also provide an opportunity to analyze the nearly completed project and the development prospects of “Cesi Porta delle Meraviglie,” which aims to transform the village into a laboratory of territorial innovation, connecting historical heritage, nature, culture, hospitality, and local community participation.

At the end of the conference, a light aperitif will be offered at Palazzo Contelori, providing an informal opportunity for dialogue and exchange between speakers, administrators, sector professionals, citizens, and members of the press.

The press is invited to attend.