LE CASTELLA – We’re ready one million euros for the redevelopment of fortress of Le Castella. This was announced by the director of the archaeological parks of Crotone and Sibari, Filippo Demma, at the end of a meeting with representatives of the municipal administration of Isola di Capo Rizzuto. The meeting was necessary because it followed the Decree of the President of the Council of Ministers number 167, the Ministry of Culture in creating theautonomous institute of the archaeological parks of Crotone and Sibari, also included jurisdiction over the fortress which falls within the Municipality of Isola di Capo Rizzuto. The site is already subject to collaborative management between the Calabria Regional Museums Directorate – again led by Demma – and the Municipality of Isola di Capo Rizzuto.
At the meeting held day May 7in addition to Demma, the mayor of Isola Capo Rizzuto also took part, Maria Grazia Vittimbergathe deputy mayor Andrea Liò and the councilor with responsibility for Culture Antonella Pagliuso.
It was an operational meeting to define the future of the Le Castella fortress and continue the co-management agreement signed last year between Demma and Vittimberga which led to the Aragonese Castle being operational and open full time. Agreement which, it has emerged, will be redefined and proposed again in light of the administrative and bureaucratic changes that have occurred with the creation of the autonomous institute of the archaeological parks of Crotone and Sibari. In this regard, a new version of the valorization agreement between the archaeological parks of Crotone and Sibari and the municipality of Isola di Capo Rizzuto is being studied to maximize the participation of the Isola municipal administration in the management of the Aragonese Castle
During the meeting Demma explained that the new institute is starting to take its first steps and took advantage of the inspection to communicate that, with the establishment of the new single park, they have been set aside, among ministerial funds And Pnrr funds, over one million euros to be allocated to the redevelopment of the monument. As explained in a note from the archaeological parks of Crotone and Sibari, we will start “immediately” with “a series of recovery and promotion works on the structure”.
“We are also carrying forward here – declared the director Filippo Demma – a virtuous example of institutional collaboration. The substantial work of finding resources that has been underway for a year, as is in the style of management already implemented for the Sibari archaeological park, will also and above all represent an opportunity for the local community. The managerial, scientific and financial autonomy, a characteristic that has proven to bring notable benefits in other cultural institutes in Italy, represents a unique opportunity for cultural and socio-economic valorisation for Isola di Capo Rizzuto and Crotone”.
Satisfaction was expressed by the mayor Vittimberga who highlighted “un change of pace which I have no hesitation in defining as historical, which gave me the clear perception that all the interlocutors were aware of dealing with an important topic such as the management of a monument of inestimable historical and cultural value. I want to express my satisfaction with Dr. Demma’s availability in proposing urgent structural interventions, to be carried out in the short term. Above all, I am happy that the administration’s point of view was accepted and the direction of an agreement prevailed that takes it into account, involving the community. I hope that the Fortress, symbol of Calabria in the world, can become a cultural and social point of reference for the community. A destination for schools, to trigger in children the curiosity for history, the passion for art and traditions and the destination of many visitors, competing with other regional attractors to be a tool for territorial promotion, generating culture and beauty”.
