Italian Hospitality Gets Boost From History

by: Mario Masciullo – eTN Italy |

A presentation was made at Palazzo Madama during a press conference organized by the Vice President of the Senate, Gian Marco Centinaio (first signatory of the bill), in the presence of the Association of Italian Historic Places President, Enrico Magenes, and professor of Tourism Economics at the Bocconi University of Milan, Magda Antonioli.

The bill recognizes – for the first time in recent history – a support plan for the protection and enhancement of historic Italian premises, to be implemented through a fund of 150 million euros over three years, set up at the Ministry of Enterprise and the Made in Italy.

The beneficiaries of the fund will be commercial activities, public establishments, artisan enterprises, and hotel establishments active for at least 70 years, have maintained original furnishings and environments, characterized by particular historical, cultural, or artistic interest, and linked to local traditions.

The same entry prerogatives are used by the Italian Historic Places Association, which today has 200 outpost members of Italian hospitality throughout the boot; survivors of world wars, economic crises, and natural disasters; and today increasingly tried first by the pandemic – which has emptied the cities of art – and then by the energy crisis and the increase in the cost of raw materials.

The Association estimates that there are around 300 historic Italian premises that meet the requirements set out in the bill to be registered and, therefore, access the resources, which individual municipalities can decide to allocate to contributions for rent or restoration, as well as tax reductions or exemptions. Awareness campaigns are also planned in schools for the adoption of educational projects on the history, culture, and traditions linked to historic places.

“Historic venues represent real cultural assets to be supported and defended.”

Vice President of the Senate, Gian Marco Centinaio, added: “They express the history, art, and traditions of the local territories. But these are not simple ‘photographs of the past.’ On the contrary, they are active promoters of productive, commercial, and hospitality activities, which also represent an important tourist attraction.

The Conference area at Palazzo Madama

“Today, many of them live in a condition of great difficulty, not only due to the pandemic and the increase in costs but also due to the competition from the large multinational groups that occupy the historic centers, forcing many businesses to close and transforming the image of our small and big cities.

“With this bill, we want to help historic venues survive and maintain their specificity as a collective cultural identity, drawing inspiration from the UNESCO conventions that protect intangible cultural heritage.”

The President of the Historic Places of Italy Association, Enrico Magenes, said: “The text that we have helped to create, undoubtedly marks a turning point for the prospects of authentic icons of Italian spirit, increasingly harassed by unsustainable costs, depressed by smart working, and from surplus management costs.

“Our historic premises have an average of over 150 years of history each and represent an invaluable identity value.”

“Icons made in Italy in the world, these pioneers of made in Italy, remain a fundamental discriminating factor in the choice of a place to stay by high-profile international tourism capable of appreciating not only the style and quality of hospitality but also history, anecdotes, and art. We thank Senator Centinaio for this initiative of great civilization.”

The bill provides for the census and the establishment of the regional list of historic places, with the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy (MIMIT) which updates the national list. In concert with the Ministry of Culture and subject to agreement with the State-Regions Conference, MIMIT will establish the criteria and methods for allocating the fund.

With an average age of 150 years, these premises have in fact survived world wars, natural disasters, economic crises, and even a pandemic, but now they risk being engulfed by the metamorphosis that is slowly and inexorably transforming the historic centers of Italy’s cities between new lifestyles and conjunctural economic pressures.

The provision, therefore, provides for a regulatory framework that protects and enhances their work, also through the establishment of a fund, under the umbrella of the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy, equal to 50 million euros a year to be used between 2023 and 2025.

The beneficiaries will be not only the 200 historical places in Italy protected and valued for over 45 years by the homonymous association but also the other (around 100) activities that meet the requirements of historicity and authenticity envisaged (both by the association and from the bill) for recognition: they must have at least 70 years of history and keep original rooms and furnishings (or that bear witness to the origins of the place), as well as presenting relics, memories, and historical documentation on illustrious events and frequentation.

Full article: Italian Hospitality Gets Boost From History
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