Sustainable Holidays
Tourism supporting local regeneration
The Garfagnana region of Italy offers a holiday destination in tune with nature and human warmth, but also with access to the art and music culture, architecture and landscape that inspired the likes of Puccini, Byron, Shelly and latterly the highly rated modern artist John Bellany.
The agricultural way of life is supported by carefully managed tourism and has been preserved and indeed developed, without eschewing modern convenience and comfort. Local barns, villas and farmhouses have been painstakingly refurbished in recent years making the best of use of sustainable local materials used since ancient times. Stone, chestnut wood, marble and terracotta have been salvaged and reused, with new materials added where necessary, to create a feeling of quality, sustainability and comfort. The famous Italian sense of design has meant that the aesthetic is also central to development.
Commercial and local political leaders have recognised that the once crumbling theatres, galleries, sports and leisure facilities and public buildings are worthy of investment and do much to enhance the vibrancy of cultural and public life. Private entrepreneurs and local families, boosted by the low key, well managed stream of tourists have developed a new found confidence in the area and reopened restaurants, cafes, village shops and facilities. New businesses such as bike hire, horse riding, guided walking, caving, canoeing and gorge walking are enjoying success but on a small scale.
Size matters, and keeping development small scale is as important to the area as sustaining their valued way of life, preserving the beauty of the landscape and the quiet, peaceful pace and human touch. The Garfagnini people, make a respectful attempt to engage with visitors, make them feel welcome and absorb them into the culture. Many visitors return home with tales of being invited into the homes of local people to taste some home made delicacy only because they attempted to converse in the local language and had a friendly and open countenance.
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