L’AQUILA – The Sirente Velino Park becomes the first European Park of the Breathing Villages. The project was presented to the press yesterday by the president of the Sirente Velino Regional Park, Francesco D’Amoreby the vice president of the regional council, Emanuele Imprudente and by the president of the National Association of Borghi del Respiro, Vincenzo Colorizio and is inserted inside the ‘V edition of the Breathing Festival‘ which will be held on Saturday 15 June in Rocca di Cambio.
During the Breathing Festival, 14 Municipalities of the Sirente Velino Park will be introduced into the National network of Breathing Villages joining the 8 already certified previously.
Together they will constitute the European Breathing Park which will be proclaimed during the Festival.
“The gathered Municipalities – explained Colorizio – will sign the Breathing Pact and will undertake to make their places even more accessible for historical and spiritual journeys, implementing a series of actions to further improve the quality of life, for the benefit of residents and tourists. At this moment we feel on par with the tourist importance of many regions of the North, because we certify the healthy nature of an entire territory”.
With the Breathing Pact, the municipalities recognize the commitment to promoting the protection of nature, the air and to stimulate the permanence and return of people to live and visit these places, for sustainable tourism that involves citizens, local associations, operators businesses and tourists to protect respiratory well-being.
“A project – declared D’Amore – in which we believed right away and which, especially in the Covid-19 period, convinced us to insist on this path to have our own recognized identity. This recognition is a great opportunity: we are already working on a series of balsamic itineraries for those who visit our area.”
The Borghi del Respiro are located in districts with good air quality certified by national parameters defined in implementation of the European Clean Air Plan.
“an important result – he commented – Imprudent because we are the first in Europe to certify air quality. Being the leader in this initiative means a lot, because we, as a Region, travel the world to tell what Abruzzo is and I am proud to be able to talk about a unique Region, also thanks to its very rich heritage of protected areas. Also for the reasons just mentioned, this certification does not mean and will not simply mean being part of an association, but will represent the desire to go much further”.
