The future of Castrolibero in the words of the mayor Orlandino Grecowho, in a recent interview, enthusiastically wanted to share the details of the project “Castrufrancu and the Bagni del Palazzotto: The Village of Timeless Knowledge”the ambitious project that is transforming the village of the town in the province of Cosenza into an important tourist and wellness centre.
The mayor, in providing updates on the current status and future stages of the project, underlined the commitment of the municipal administration in redesigning the urban fabric of Castrolibero, carrying forward various regeneration worksincluding the valorisation of the historic centre, financed by the call for villages of the Calabria Region, for a total value of over 6 million euros.
The goal is transform Castrolibero into a hospitable historic villagethrough a series of interventions that include the creation of an info point dedicated to slow food, art shops, a space for smart working, called Cafè conciliary room, and then structures for recreational and social activities, a local cooking school , a cinema, a theatre, a museum and a neighborhood entirely dedicated to sport.
The key element, however, considered the flagship of the project, are the “Bathrooms of the Palazzotto”or a spa built in the former Ruffolo house, now a public property, which is undergoing a “rebuilding” intervention to restore its ancient grandeur, transforming it into the first wellness center in a historic building in the entire Cosenza hinterland.
The Palazzotto was once the ancient camp of the French responsible for protecting Consentia from Saracen incursions. This site, also known as the village of Tinozze, reflects the peculiarities of the Castroliberese territory, characterized by the presence of large limestone masses underground and by pure, crystalline waters.
Here a fountain was erected in 1888 at the point where a trickle of water had always flowed, known as “Truglio”. The mayor reported that they were inspired by the Bormio model and the success of the old and new bathrooms in the town in Valtellina. Approach that transforms Castrolibero into a welcoming historic village, focused on slow tourism devoted to well-being and relaxation.
A combination that can be achieved thanks to the presence of Turkish baths and hot pools, beautifully harmonized with the food and wine offer, following the example of Seville, with new structures transformed into places of culinary interest, such as wineries and ham shops.
And if, on the one hand, Greco confirmed that the work is almost complete, on the other it is focused on the problem of poor hotel accommodation throughout the province of Cosenza, underlining how the Municipality led by him is also actively tackling this challenge. In parallel with public projects, in fact, private companies have also been solicited and involved and are presenting proposals to increase accommodation capacity, supported by incentives and benefits offered by various tenders, such as the new POR Calabria and other regional funding.
In conclusion, Orlandino Greco offered a detailed look and a clear vision of the “Castrufrancu ei Bagni del Palazzotto” project, highlighting its capacity for urban, and therefore social and cultural, redevelopment and regeneration for Castrolibero. A unique example and a model to export, which guarantees an unparalleled development opportunity.
Finally, he highlighted the consensus received at regional and national level for the initiative, reiterating the Municipality’s determination to carry it forward, regardless of any changes in the political context.
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