Twenty-two historical properties owned by Italy’s Demanio State property agency are being put out under concession for up to 50 years. The aim is to remove them from the threat of degradation.
The 22 historical properties are to be found across Italy. They are rich in history and identity, entwined in their environments, and the social and cultural fabric of their local communities.
The aim of the concession is to recover the assets, removing the threat of degradation and making the most of them in economic and social terms. They would be entrusted to private entities capable of restoring, reusing and managing the properties by combining tourism, culture, environmental protections and sustainable transport.
It is possible to respond to the call for tenders and present a bid until 12:00 on May 19, 2022.
The key historical properties
The properties date from the 13th century and include large pieces of real-estate and medium-sized buildings for sustainable tourism.
Two of the most interesting and special properties are a theatre and church. The historic Teatro Rossi in Pisa (pictured) was built in 1770 and has a glorious past as a famous stage for works of prose, opera and dance. Meanwhile, in Mantua, the former San Cristoforo church dates back to the early 15th century with additional elements from the 18th century.
The Caserma Caldieri barracks is one of the largest pieces of real estate. Situated on the sea front on the island of Ortigia in Siracusa, it dates back to the 17th century. Originally a convent, it became barracks and a military hospital.
Another property with a sea view is the Palazzo dei Principi Lanza di Trabia at San Nicola Arcella, Cosenza. Constructed at the end of the 18th century it has a panoramic position on a stretch of the Tyrrhenian Sea.
With parkland
Villa Lieta, previously Villa Boyd, sits in its own park at Sanremo. Built at the start of the 20th century it is in a prestigious 19th century district.
Villa Carducci Pandolfini sits on a plain to the south-west of Florence. It is a 15th century building constructed on the remains of a 13th-century tower.
On Sicily
Another big property is the San Vito prison at Agrigento. Built as a convent in the first half of the 15th century, it became a jail in the second half of the 19th century.
There is also Palermo’s Real Casa dei Matti, a former mental institution and military hospital close to the centre of the capital of Sicily.
Sustainable tourism itineraries
The properties up for tender also include medium-sized buildings along sustainable tourism itineraries. They include: the former Torre di Badino customs office at Terracina; the Cardeto lighthouse in Ancona; the Bacucco sul Po toll gate at Ariano nel Polesine. In addition are the former Roccolo and Ronchi toll gates at Pieve di Cadore together with the Sottocastello station; the former Monte Croce Carnico defensive barracks at Paluzza; the Monte di Mezzo former munitions depot at Sagrado; the Sperone bastion and the Gran Maestrato of San Lazzaro a Capua; the Villa Margi rail signal box at Reitano; the roadman’s house at Irsina; a customs house with garden at Grottammare; and another property in Via Stenico, Cremona.
The initiative
The initiative is part of the Valore Paese Italia (Italy Country Value) project. It involves the Demanio agency work with the culture ministry, tourism agency ENIT, Difesa Servizi Spa and other institutional partners such as Anas and Anci-Fondazione Patrimonio Comune.
The aim is bring together under the same brand the networks that seek to valorise properties of cultural and landscape interest. This in turn, helps the development of new activities linked to sustainable tourism, culture, sport, training and sustainable transport, via public-private partnership instruments. All of this is part of an objective to create a support system for slow, sustainable tourism.
