Antonio Abbate

The economic development of a territory has always been found in the exploitation of its natural resources and cultural and immaterial heritage, it is one of the most effective tool,  so that when this potential remains untapped, when the heritage do not exercise a central role in territorial development strategies, the touristic attractiveness plunges. An emblematic example is our province, around which, except for rare exceptions, no real touristic product was established and the result is ineffective despite significant touristic attractions. Our rich history of famous people who were born here (for example Saint Thomas Aquinas and Cicero, authentic pillars of Western culture), a heritage that bears witness, in every age, of the presence of extraordinary artists, this can be a basis for the relaunch of the territory. With the irreversible crisis experienced by our numerous industrial sites, it becomes more urgent than ever to give priority to development programs focused on cultural heritage. The European cultural multidisciplinary project “Sources of Culture: The Cafés of Europe”, coordinated by the Route of Spa Towns of the Massif Central, in partnership with the European Historic Thermal Towns Association (EHTTA), of which the city of Fiuggi is an active member since 2011, is particularly significant. This project stimulated the consolidation of a new sense for the territory in revisiting the link between culture and thermalism, between identity and tradition, where the reference to the reputation of famous characters of the world of cinema, claimed by our province, may constitute a valid form of economic and social recovery. In the name of Marcello Mastroianni, Vittorio De Sica, Nino Manfredi, authentic interpreters of the best Italian film tradition, but also of no less important artists such as Arturo, Carlo Ludovico and Anton Giulio Bragaglia, I believe we must adopt strategies with public institutions, starting from the thermal link between welfare and cultural vocation, and finally render justice to the age-old traditions of our country and recognize their leading role in the economic field so far underestimated.