SPONSORED CONTENT
We are in the heart of Abruzzo, in the historic center of L’Aquila, where every glance, every street lamp, every barrier is a discreet witness to a transformation that began over a decade ago. Exactly 15 years ago. In fact, in April 2009, we all remember the violent earthquake that shook not only the ground but also the souls of an entire astonished community.
L’Aquila has lost an invaluable cultural heritage, but it has also demonstrated incredible resilience. From day one, the population mobilized, digging through the rubble in a mixture of pain and hope.
What we find ourselves in front of 15 years later is a city with a renewed face: order, beauty and tranquility characterize the urban landscape. However, moving through the narrowest alleys, you still come across bulldozers and rubble, silent witnesses of wounds that have not completely healed.
Among the protagonists of this rebirth there are young people such as Andrea and Daniele Mancini of the “Lo Zio” restaurant, Giordano Equizi of “L’Acquerello” and Davide Ciocca of “Nova Vida”, who were little more than kids at the time of the earthquake. For them the moment of responsibility arrived violently early. Family businesses torn apart, deaths, uncertainties for the future and also for the present. However today, they are key figures in the city’s food and wine renaissance. It is a wonderful story, which brings hope to the children of recent adverse calamities.
We therefore wanted to delve deeper into the thought, history, and synergy that triggered all this.
We met Davide Ciocca, one of the youngest local entrepreneurs and a fervent supporter of rebirth, to learn about his vision and plans for the future of his city.
Ciocca’s vision: we look beyond food and fun
“The rebirth of L’Aquila goes beyond the reconstruction of buildings,” explains Ciocca. “It is a cultural, social and urban renewal. We restaurateurs have a great responsibility in this process.”
With passion, he tells how his restaurant, with an emblematic and celebratory name of this change, Nova Vida, is not just a place to eat, but a center for meeting and cultural exchange.
An ecosystem of collaboration and support
Ciocca underlines the importance of collaboration between commercial activities: “We have created an ecosystem in which every business, from the smallest bar to the large restaurant, contributes to the rebirth. We support each other, promoting events together and asking ourselves every day what we can do to improve the overall experience of the tourist, resident and university student”. There is no concept of “my customer”, but “our customer”.
The importance of the social fabric
“The clubs are the new living rooms of the city,” continues Ciocca. “They are places of meeting, discussion and celebration, essential to defining the identity of L’Aquila.” The impact of places like Nova Vida is profound, helping to create a sense of normality and belonging for citizens and visitors. It is our task to enhance the excellence of the place, bring together young and old – perhaps through a spritz at the end of the day – enhance our wines in front of platters of local cured meats, and allow visitors to say “in L’Aquila you drink well. We have fun in L’Aquila. In L’Aquila you eat well. In L’Aquila they are nice.” The customer will not be impressed by Nova Vida, but thanks to Nova Vida he will have discovered the area. And this is the mission that is clear from the moment we raise the shutters every morning.
Towards a sustainable future
Looking to the future, Ciocca reflects: “The challenge now is to maintain this momentum, continuing to innovate while preserving our identity.” The objective is to make L’Aquila a livable and attractive city, recognized not only for its past but also for its current cultural and social vitality. Even in a small space like ours we organize parties, live music and meeting points. If we can do it, we can all do it. And if we can all do it, we can all do it together. Then you will see the difference.
A model of rebirth
L’Aquila’s story of rebirth, narrated by figures like Davide, shows how resilience, collaboration and creativity can not only rebuild a city, but profoundly renew its soul. These young people, rolling up their sleeves, allowed their parents to rest, sacrificing their carefreeness to give life to something bigger: not just commercial activities, but the beating hearts of a community that looks to the future with hope and determination.
