Historic houses, collaboration with the Cnel begins. Focus on small municipalities and rural areas

A structured cooperation on the themes of protection and enhancement of cultural heritage, regeneration of marginal territorial areas and sustainable development of territories, with special attention to small municipalities and rural areas. The Cnel and the Association of Italian Historic Residences have signed a memorandum of understanding born out of an awareness of the strategic role of listed cultural assets, which constitute a widespread heritage strongly rooted in Italian villages and small towns, and represent a cultural, social and economic stronghold capable of activating local supply chains, fostering forms of sustainable tourism and contributing to combating depopulation.

Through the protocol, Cnel and Adsi undertake to develop joint initiatives on a series of macro-themes of common interest, such as the promotion of the cultural, social and entrepreneurial development of the territories, with particular reference to inland and rural areas; the dissemination of awareness on the value of the cultural heritage of inland areas, through educational and training activities aimed at schools, young people, fragile categories and local communities; study and research activities dedicated to the historical building and landscape heritage collaboration in the context of the Cnel's institutional activities, including the "Annual Report to Parliament and the Government on the levels and quality of services provided by public administrations", with specific contributions referring to territorial contexts; the territorial dissemination of the Cnel's projects, through communication and participation initiatives carried out in conjunction with the associative networks and local presidia.

"With the signing of this memorandum of understanding, we are enhancing a fundamental and visible piece of Italia's history, an irreplaceable economic and social stronghold, especially in our inland areas," says Cnel president Renato Brunetta. "This collaboration is part of a broader strategic vision that Cnel is promoting, for the creation of a real 'network of networks'. The aim is to systemise all those realities that, like Adsi, incorporate historical, economic and human values capable of enhancing the peculiarities of our country. Precisely to give substance to this initiative, in the coming months the Cnel will host a major event that will feature these dozens of historical, cultural, and value networks in order to work out together the strategies for the relaunch of the country system and the regeneration of the territories, through its relational assets, i.e. culture, work, and training'.

"We are pleased to have signed this memorandum of understanding,' says Maria Pace Odescalchi, president of Adsi, 'because it reinforces a shared vision in which the widespread historical heritage represents a strategic resource for the future of the territories, capable of generating cultural, social, and economic value. Through this agreement we intend to contribute, by pooling skills, studies and experience gained in the field, to a shared path of protection, enhancement and development'.