Festival of Narrating Countries 2026

Festival opening Paolo Setta Director of Tourism IL BOSSO Soc. Coop.

Official Greetings:
- Antonio D'Alfonso Mayor of Capestrano
- Paolo Federico Chairman of the Integrated Tourist Destination “Storytelling Lands of Gran Sasso” and of the Gal Gran Sasso Velino
- Cristian Moscone Chairman of IL BOSSO Soc. Coop.

Moderator: Paolo Setta e Filomena Spagnoli Director of Design and Environmental Education THE Bosso Soc. Coop.

Introduce: Marco Bussone National President of UNCEM

Laboratory for territorial interaction and co-programming with:

• Daniele D’Amario Undersecretary of the Abruzzo Region Presidency
• Mario Quaglieri Councillor, Abruzzo Region
• Emanuele Imprudente Councillor, Abruzzo Region
• Roberto Santangelo Councillor, Abruzzo Region
• Carla Mannetti Regional Councillor of Abruzzo
• Pierpaolo Pietrucci Regional Councillor of Abruzzo
• Antonio Di Marco Councillor of the Abruzzo Region and President of “The Most Beautiful Villages of Italy” Abruzzo-Molise
• Pierluigi Biondi Mayor of L'Aquila, Italian Capital of Culture 2026
• Guido Liris Senator of the Italian Republic
• Michele Fina Senator of the Italian Republic
• Patrizio Schiazza Commissioner of the National Park of Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga
• Lorenzo Berardinetti President of UNCEM Abruzzo
• Giovanni Anastasio Mayor of Pizzoli - Coordinator of Homogeneous Areas for the 2009 Earthquake
• Raffaello Fico Head of the Special Reconstruction Office - USRC
• Giovanni Lolli already interim President of the Abruzzo Region
• Luca Pezzuto Lecturer at the University of L'Aquila
• Rita Salvatore Lecturer at the University of Teramo
• Mariagiovanna Brandano GSSI Lecturer

Reflections and sharing of 15 Mayors of the Gran Sasso Narrative Countries together with the tour operators and stakeholders present.

Actions for the integrated use and enhancement of the cultural and environmental heritage in the Crater area.

• 1. Actions underway for the tourism and cultural development of the Crater area:
  • Restart Development Programme: PIT Integrated Projects for Tourism;
  • Intervention programme for the areas affected by the 2009 and 2016 earthquakes, funded by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) - Cammini degli Altipiani, as a first experiment in integrated planning;
• 2. The project "ECOMUSEUM: Heritage, History and Landscapes of Abruzzo":
  • Project financing, governance and partnership;
  • What is an Ecomuseum and how does it differ from a traditional museum?;
  • Project actions: the construction of an integrated territorial fruition system;
  • Grassroots participation and construction of the ecomuseum system.;
  • Focus on some project actions:
    • OP.1 Documentation Centre: geographical location and building characteristics criteria;
    • OP.2 - Guided tours of cultural and environmental heritage;
    • OP.3 - Smart home enjoyment of cultural heritage: the heritage opens its doors to visitors;
    • OP.4 - Teaching network;
    • OP.5 - Festival of Impossible Actions;
    • OP.7-8: Research and enhancement of archaeological and palaeontological heritage and Specialist training in the cultural sector;
• 3. Project schedule and actions to be activated in the next three years.

Return Boot Camp and presentation of the project ideas developed during the training residency “Small Towns Future Workshop” together with Expert lecturers from the University of L'Aquila, University of Teramo, ’G. d'Annunzio" University of Chieti–Pescara and the Gran Sasso Science Institute Giving young designers a platform, who, together with mayors, administrators and tourism operators, will present project ideas to shape the future of small towns and their welcoming communities.

They are coordinating the work: Paolo Setta, Filomena Spagnoli, Rita Salvatore, Maria Giovanna Brandano e Luca Pezzuto.

Castelvecchio Calvisio - Meeting and welcome
Greetings from Mayor and delivery of the bookmark symbolising the Narrating Countries.

Departure for the trek in the company of Valentino Mosesso “Poet, Shepherd, Farmer who will read his poems during the hike.

Arrival in Calascio and greetings from Mayor. Inspirational narratives of “Mimì, The Historic Shepherd of Gran Sasso”.

A convivial gourmet feast featuring the typical flavours of the "Paesi Narranti" (Storytelling Countries).

Inspiring Tour of Calascio, the Storytelling Village of Gran Sasso

Trekking back towards Castelvecchio Calvisio

Inspirational Tour of Castelvecchio Calvisio, the Storytelling Village of Gran Sasso

Festival closing aperitif and final greetings from the institutions

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