Pilot Project “Gerace Porta del Sole”

Attractiveness of small historic town (Mission 1 – Component 3: Investment 2.1)

Italy’s Recovery and Resilience Plan contributes to the "Piano Nazionale Borghi" initiative, designed to bolster the economic and social growth of underprivileged regions through cultural rejuvenation of small towns and boosting tourism. The efforts revolve around cohesive cultural projects tailored to local areas. 

Key measures include: 

1. refurbishing historical landmarks and enhancing public spaces (like eliminating architectural obstacles and upgrading urban amenities), establishing compact cultural services, especially for tourism;
2. devising and highlighting new pathways such as thematic or historical trails while promoting guided tours;
3. providing financial aid for cultural, creative, tourism-related, commercial, agri-food, and artisanal ventures, aiming to rejuvenate local economies by spotlighting local products, skills, and methods.

The investment is financed by Italy’s Recovery and Resilience plan by EUR 560 million.

The pilot Project Pilot Project “Gerace Porta del Sole” is part of this investment, and is financed by Italy’s Recovery and Resilience plan with EUR 2.3 million.

The interventions planned by the pilot project “Gerace Porta del Sole” are:

1. Artinborgo Festival (€600,000) - The actions involve the implementation and valorization of the international street art festival "Il borgo Incantato: l'arte di strada nei vicoli" which has been taking place in the historic center since 1999.
2. Mediterranean Creativity Hub (€1.5 million): The project aims to create two work labs. The first will be for restoration of cultural heritage goods: in this lab the cultural heritage of the village will become a workspace for young people, universities, fine arts academies, and local associations; the second lab will be for craftsmanship.
3. Tourism Training Hub (€600,000): The action aims to recovery and adapt a disused public building and the outdoor space of the Monumental Church of San Francesco d'Assisi cloister that will be used as an open-air space for events, workshops, networking, and training courses for tourist guides.
4. Widespread Hotel (€7.7 million): The action aims to reuse and to adapt old and historical housing in the village for creating 160 luxury beds, wellness spa services, co-working spaces and art space.
5. Physical Accessibility to the village (€3 million): The subproject aims to facilitate the access to the village by limiting vehicle traffic in the historic center through the construction of a vertical panoramic elevator that connects the lower part of the village with the upper city.
6. Integrated Lighting System (€800,000): Decorative and artistic lighting installations for monuments with energy-saving features.
7. Gerace Digital Gateway (€600,000): Digital services for the virtual visit and enjoyment of the artistic and cultural heritage.
8. Incentives to enterprises for Development (€4 million): Incentives for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), new female and youth-led businesses, and third-sector companies operating in the cultural, artistic, tourist, recreational, and social sectors.
9. Territorial Marketing (€1.2 million): The action aims to elaborate a proposal for the village's candidacy as a UNESCO heritage site. The subproject aims to realize training and local community capacity building activities to improve the development of the territory and tourist hospitality; communication and promotion of handcraft and tourist resources.