Suvignano, the estate’s church reopens. Region: all institutions are needed for rebirth

For the future of the Suvignano estate it is important to create synergies with the State, so that the government can start to lend a hand from an economic point of view.

This is the message that the Tuscany Region, through the president of the council, addressed this morning to the national institutions that visited the estate on the occasion of a new important step in the process of rebirth of the most important asset ever confiscated from the mafias in the centre- Italy: the reopening for worship of the chapel of Santo Stefano, a small building dedicated to prayer that has always accompanied the history of this immense estate nestled between the hills of Monteroni d’Arbia and Murlo.

The president spoke during the round table dedicated to work and agriculture, which preceded the celebration of the Holy Mass to welcome the return of the church to worship. The meeting was attended by, among others, the president of the anti-mafia commission and the internal undersecretary, the cardinal and archbishop of Siena-Colle di Val d’Elsa-Montalcino Augusto Paolo Lojudice, as well as the vice-president of the Region (with delegations to agriculture), the regional councilor for legality, the leaders of Ente Terre, the in-house agency of the Tuscan administration which is entrusted with the management of the estate.

The president, expressing satisfaction with the resumption of religious functions in the chapel, reiterated the Region’s commitment to the relaunch of the estate. He recalled the recent presentation of the Legality Hostel, financed with regional resources, which will soon start hospitality activities acting as a stopping point for girls and boys committed against the mafias and for tourists passionate about walking along the Via Francigena.

It is necessary to create, according to the president, an ever greater integration between the training activities that are carried out today to consolidate the culture of legality and the anti-mafia commitment, tourism, agriculture, in order to give the sense of a place that becomes source of civilization, of work, meeting between young people.

Suvignano is an estate of 638 hectares, in which there are 13 properties to be restored, 4 natural lakes. Today an agritourism already operates, it hosts initiatives against organized crime with young people, alongside cereal and olive growing activities and the regional center for traditional agri-food skills is active.

Recently, the vice-president of the Region and councilor for agriculture recalled, the Region also presented the industrial plan to further develop organic agricultural and livestock activities, enhancing quality and respect for the environment. The estate, the vice president underlined, can become the symbol of the collective will of the institutions, of the State’s ability to manage an asset legally and efficiently and to demonstrate its strength. A duty, you concluded, that we must all feel as a priority commitment.

The regional councilor for legality highlighted how Suvignano is the reference example of Tuscany’s commitment to the redevelopment of assets confiscated from the mafia. In Suvignano the Region operates with its own structures and resources. Here the paths of legality are witnessed, with stays promoted by third sector organizations which hold courses with girls and boys on the culture of legality and the fight against mafias. The Region will continue to invest resources because the objective is to fully recover the assets entrusted to it, starting from the main building, the villa, which requires 6 million euros for renovation. But, the councilor was keen to reiterate, the Region cannot be left alone and sharing and participation in the Suvignano project is desirable.

Note. The press release was drawn up in compliance with the provisions on equal conditions taken with the calling of the electoral rallies for the European and administrative elections of 8 and 9 June 2024.