Archaeological sites as Drivers of Local Development Through Collective Engagement and Holistic Valorisation

With the update of the 2021–2027 National Strategic Plan for Inner Areas, the debate over the future of these territories has reignited, sparking controversy regarding the vision expressed by the Department for Cohesion Policies. In the document, later amended, some Inner Areas were initially described as requiring “accompaniment along a path of irreversible depopulation,” with a plan aimed at managing what was considered a chronic decline. This approach, subsequently retracted, highlights how the fate of Italy’s Inner Areas remains far from being effectively addressed, despite a decade of planning and substantial financial investments. Considering such decline as irreversible represents both a failure and a sign of societal disengagement. Abandoning these territories would mean wasting resources and undermining the commitment of those who, in recent years, have worked to develop tools and methods for their regeneration. The PNRR has also allocated significant investments to key aspects of Inner Areas, including research on the cultural heritage they hold, an issue this contribution aims to summarise.