Mussomeli Genius Loci – Mountain Tourism All Year Round through the Discovery, Appreciation and Storytelling of a Community

by on in Local Development and Sustainability, Projects

Mussomeli Genius Loci – Mountain Tourism All Year Round through the Discovery, Appreciation and Storytelling of a Community
EU Programme: National funding (FUNT – Ministry of Tourism)
Reference: Public Notice “Montagna Italia” – Prot. No. 9049 of 18/07/2022; final ranking approved by Director’s Decree Prot. No. 27410/23 of 24/10/2023; Grant Agreement Prot. No. 913 of 07/01/2026.
Start date: 01/01/2026
End date: 31/12/2028

The Mussomeli Genius Loci project aims to strengthen mountain tourism in the town of Mussomeli through an integrated, sustainable and participatory approach. The initiative enhances the historical, cultural, natural and identity heritage of the territory, engaging the local community as a key actor in regeneration processes.

Planned actions include co‑design laboratories, experiential and sensory routes, inclusive tourism, green mobility, the creation of a community social enterprise, participatory impact evaluation and Euro‑Mediterranean cooperation. The project seeks to de-seasonalise tourist flows, attract new markets, improve accessibility, generate new local economies and build a replicable model of sustainable tourism development.

Objectives

General Objective

Strengthening mountain tourism in the town of Mussomeli through sustainable initiatives that connect residents with each other and with their territory, enhancing its historical, artistic, natural and cultural heritage throughout the year.

Specific Objectives

  • Create new tourism products compared to traditional ones, with a focus on authentic, unique and unrepeatable experiences.
  • Activate tourism seasons beyond the traditional mountain periods, expanding the use of the territory beyond winter/summer.
  • Stimulate and attract markets beyond the local one, with particular attention to international visitors and roots tourism.
  • Replicate international best practices, adapting them to the local context.
  • Promote the creation of interregional and international networks.
  • Ensure synergy and integration among the different types of interventions foreseen by the call.
  • Improve accessibility for people with disabilities and special needs through dedicated services and tailored tourism products/packages.
  • Support the transition towards green and digital tourism, in line with the European Commission’s “Transition Pathway for Tourism”.

Activities

  • Technical, administrative and financial coordination of the project.
  • Regeneration Lab for co‑design with the community and local stakeholders.
  • Civic hackathons and training programmes on entrepreneurship and social impact.
  • Inclusive tourism: training, accessibility monitoring and dedicated guide.
  • Cultural, historical and naturalistic itinerant theatre routes.
  • Eco‑sustainable mobility and green services for residents and tourists.
  • Promotion and support for the creation of the community social enterprise.
  • Administrative, legal and accounting support to the community cooperative.
  • Participatory impact evaluation and development of the Theory of Change.
  • Follow‑up laboratories and Euro‑Mediterranean cooperation activities.
  • Agricultural experiential tourism and “agriculture of relationships”.
  • Enhancement of religious and traditional events of the Confraternities.
  • Sports tourism: MTB and trail/off‑road competitions.
  • Local cuisine workshops and solidarity-based experiences.
  • Film tourism: screenplay development and pitch trailer.
  • Digital platform for information, booking and promotion/marketing.

Results

  • Participatory development of the mountain destination strategy.
  • Memoranda of Understanding among operators, enterprises, associations and the local community.
  • Impacta Re‑Generation Lab implemented with mapping of tangible and intangible heritage.
  • Training cycles and civic hackathons completed, with entrepreneurial initiatives supported.
  • Four itinerant theatre routes created and activated.
  • Accessibility monitoring and production of an accessible tourism guide.
  • Electric mobility system and green services designed and launched.
  • Community social enterprise established and supported operationally.
  • Administrative, legal and accounting support to the cooperative for three years.
  • Theory of Change, evaluation plan and participatory impact assessment.
  • Local and international co‑design laboratories and Euro‑Mediterranean network activated.
  • “Agriculture of relationships” activities and agricultural experiential formats implemented.
  • Enhancement of religious and community traditions through Confraternity events.
  • Regional sports events (MTB and trail/off‑road) organised.
  • Local cuisine workshops and experiential activities with The Good Kitchen.
  • Screenplay and pitch trailer for the cinematic promotion of the destination.
  • Digital platform for information, management and promotion/marketing of the destination.

Partnership

PRISM Impresa Sociale s.r.l. (Italy)

Impacta s.r.l. (Italy)

Village for All s.r.l. (Italy)

FCAT – Fondazione Comunitaria di Agrigento e Trapani (Italy)

Terra Promessa ETS (Italy)

Fondazione Aglaia – Diritto al Patrimonio Culturale (Italy)

Azure Consulting s.r.l. (Italy)

Keywords

Mountain tourism, Territorial regeneration, Co‑design, Inclusive tourism, Sustainable mobility, Community social enterprise, Impact evaluation, Experiential tourism, Euro‑Mediterranean cooperation, Digital platform.

Website

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Tags

Adults, Entrepreneurship, Inclusion.

Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. The European Union cannot be held responsible for them.