Italian mountain communities implement strategies to combat depopulation

Local administrators in the Abruzzo, Lazio, and Molise regions are convening to discuss strategies for reversing the depopulation of small Apennine mountain communities. A conference in Civitella Alfedena will feature mayors from Fontecchio, Gagliano Aterno, and Castel del Giudice to share successful models of community revitalization.

Key initiatives include Fontecchio’s ‘Casa&Bottega’ project, which links heritage recovery with new residential activities, and Gagliano Aterno’s ‘Neo’ project, which focuses on welfare services tailored to community needs. Castel del Giudice has implemented a strategy centered on economic opportunities and community cooperation. This includes the ‘Borgo Tufi’ project, which transformed an abandoned rural area into a ‘diffuse hotel’ with accessibility features, and the ‘Ri-Abitare’ project aimed at encouraging both returning natives and new residents to settle in the village.

Other local economic drivers mentioned include agricultural ventures such as apple cultivation, craft beer production, and community-led honey production, all designed to move these towns beyond mere tourism toward sustainable, year-round habitation.