Cisternino to host international conference on Mediterranean villages

Cisternino will host the 10th international conference, ‘I Borghi più belli del Mediterraneo’, on October 23 and 24. The event focuses on the future of small villages and strategies to combat depopulation.

Organized by the association ‘I Borghi più belli d’Italia’ and the Municipality of Cisternino, the conference will involve institutions, academics, and experts from Croatia, Lebanon, Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Albania. Key discussion topics include cohesion policies, sustainable development, innovation, and the valorization of local resources.

The program will address demographic and economic challenges, exploring concepts such as ‘restanza’ and ‘tornanza’ to make small centers more attractive and livable. Regional Agriculture and Rural Development Councilor Francesco Paolicelli noted that developing these areas requires integrating agriculture, tourism, and gastronomy.