Monte Castello di Vibio, March 2019
Here it is! A destination I wouldn't have expected to reach, still here with civic commitment, love, and passion, both mine and that of my partners, supported by the admiration of thousands of friends of the world's smallest theater!
We have worked tirelessly to enhance the value of culture through visitor engagement, web communication, and the increase of tourist impact that artistic and cultural assets like the Teatro della Concordia stimulate. Additionally, our aim is to further promote 'Culture for Culture's Sake' as an end in itself, making it participatory.
Here, cultural tourism, much more than other forms of tourism, has the characteristic of moving people around rather extensive territories throughout the year. The cultural innovation processes we have structured consider culture as:
- a factor of civilization and moral and spiritual elevation of citizens, the adventurous tourist seeks the 'places of the soul' as an indispensable faith in their human identity;
- vehicle for education of citizens.
- intervention tool to achieve goals in various areas of public policies (from youth policies to urban design interventions).
- identity factor, used both for nation-building purposes and to strengthen 'civic pride' at the regional and local levels.
In light of the twenty-five years of experience in managing one of the most distinctive Italian Cultural Heritage sites, I express - dutifully, with respect for cultural assets - some considerations to support the economic effectiveness that arises from it:
"With the restoration of the historic theater designed in the eighteenth-century style with its typical 'bell' shape, Monte Castello di Vibio, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy, positively enriches the tourist experiential value of the Tiber Valley and contributes to the local economic growth, especially thanks to the attractiveness of its Teatro della Concordia. Due to its remarkable architectural features, the theater is open for visits and serves as an unconventional venue for events and civil weddings.
The positive impact on the local economy registers a 60% economic contribution to the services offered. It is an innovative aspect that is spreading in this digital age of economic regression and that can give new impetus and vitality to those knowledge niches that hardworking and tireless non-profit organizations like our Società del Teatro della Concordia are keen on enhancing to the fullest. The strong pursuit and development of processes offered by the web have allowed the enjoyment, first by an increasingly incremental number of virtual visitors, which then translated into the real aspect of on-site knowledge of the Theater by real visitors (individuals or organized groups), interested in appreciating its historical, artistic, and social peculiarities from every corner of the world.
Among the most emotionally connected, we remember young international artists who gradually discover the pride of being ambassadors of this gem in the heart of Italy and Japanese tourists who have twinned their most beautiful places with our Most Beautiful Villages of Italy. In this virtuous circuit, they greatly appreciate Monte Castello di Vibio and its smallest and most complete existing theater.
With this, our association still aims to:
- an operational growth which will allow visibility of socio-cultural offerings, making them appropriate and competitive;
- an increase in awareness of the members in taking full control of actions and responses to the demands of the cultural 'market,' with an improvement in the external operational image of the Società del Teatro della Concordia. This provides attention and assurance of affiliation, qualities highly sought after by cultural tourism enthusiasts.
However, it is important to consider that the organizational structure for the management of the Teatro della Concordia is complex and requires constant attention in terms of safety, as well as in the relational and hospitality aspects.
The 'historic theater' generates culture, boosts tourism, creates a theater season; it is an unconventional venue for 'important moments,' nurtures relationships with those visitors who, once affiliated, wish to maintain a vital connection with us.
All of this requires continuous attention with non-negotiable commitments and responsibilities, also in compliance with laws and regulations, which go well beyond the availability of volunteers.
Our commitment in this noble civic sense compels us to continue working and, at the same time, not to overlook the need for considerations to ensure that the management structure is suitable for the potential resources in the field. This is to avoid the risk of critical issues or ungovernability if the organizational system becomes too complex.
We, and the institutions that currently appreciate and share the value of the Teatro della Concordia, are called upon to work towards consolidating and establishing a management that, driven by passion and enthusiasm, does not run the risk, if these elements wane, of leading us to a sudden and difficult-to-recover collapse.
The Teatro della Concordia is a driving force for the tourism and cultural economy.
These activities generate value for Monte Castello di Vibio:
- to the tourist and cultural growth of the area;
- in terms of enhancing social life aggregation.
The collaborating members directly involved in providing their voluntary work demonstrate a strong motivation in their active participation. They strive for the proselytism of association life with a constructive and proactive spirit.
It is worth noting that here in the Association, we create an experiential school of organization and respect for the heritage values of a community for young members. This is to ensure that these values are lived and maintained for future generations.
