Pompeii, Strategic Plan Update: Resources for 900 Million Euros

Pompeii, Strategic Plan update: resources for 900 million euros of which 594 for interventions already financed and 337 for those to be financed.

An update to the Strategic Plan, which also includes a significant change in the resources currently allocated, with an increase of over €900 million, of which €594 million for projects already funded and €337 million for those to be funded. This was the focus of the meeting of the Management Committee of the Strategic Plan for the Development of the Archaeological Areas of Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Torre Annunziata. The meeting was chaired by the Minister of Culture, Dario Franceschini, and was also attended by the other ministries involved, who participated via live link. This result was also achieved thanks to the "great collaboration between all the institutional stakeholders in the area," emphasized the project's general director, Giovanni Di Blasio, "which also allows us to expedite procedures on complex matters." The €549 million allocated to the 1.724 projects already funded includes €98 million from the 'Vesuvius-Pompeii-Naples' CIS, recently presented in the presence of the Minister for the South, Mara Carfagna, the President of the Region, Vincenzo De Luca, and the Mayor of Naples, Gaetano Manfredi.

"The strategic plan started in 2018 with 1,75 billion - Di Blasio specifies - and today it reaches 2.68 billion, all to the benefit of an area that needs to be further enhanced, to make the most of the very important cultural attractions present here".

The most significant updates concern the interventions for the construction of the railway hub in Pompeii (30,6 million), the conversion of the Torre Annunziata-Castellammare di Stabia-Gragnano railway line into a light tram (33 million), the redevelopment of the Villa Favorita complex with Bourbon pier in Ercolano (49 million), the enhancement of the former Royal Arms Factory 'Spolettificio dell'Esercito' in Torre Annunziata.

Furthermore, the definition of the system of interventions for the completion of the sewerage and collection schemes of the municipalities in the area affected by the Management Plan of the UNESCO site (113 million), the implementation of interventions on the cultural heritage identified within the Strategic Plan (10 million euros), the urban compatibility of the Eav Pompei Santuario railway with a new connection route (67 million), the remodulation of the Major Project 'Completion of the redevelopment of the Sarno River' (from 217 to 402 million).

During the committee, new proposals from the territory were also presented, including the Vesuvius Cableway (53 million) and the completion of the general program for the enhancement of the royal site of Portici (71 million).

"It is a challenge that has already been partially won with the extraordinary recovery of the archaeological site - Franceschini points out - Now it's about investing in what's outside, also because we have the opportunity to demonstrate that investing in culture creates jobs and development. To the approximately €600 million already available to finance structural interventions around the site, private resources and other infrastructure projects must now be added, creating a major development area around Pompeii.

The director of the archaeological park, Gabriel Zuchtriegel, highlights how we have moved on "From the time we were talking about a plan for the future to an implementation phase, with the excellent news that this update also includes a significant increase in resources. At this point, we can say that we are doing very well."

Thanks to the Strategic Plan, we have been able to strengthen protection efforts at the UNESCO World Heritage site and expand the cultural offerings for visitors. Based on the initial projects completed, we have already seen initial results in terms of employment and increased tourist stays in the area., explains Francesco Sirano, director of the Archaeological Park of Herculaneum.