San Marcellino – Two structures once in the hands of the Camorra, today transformed into places of aggregation and growth for the community.
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It is the story of the goods confiscated in San Marcellino and Casapesenna, in the Caserta area, which have become a multipurpose sports centre and a youth hostel with a co-working space, respectively, inaugurated in the presence of the institutions.
From symbol of crime to engine of legality
In San Marcellino, the former headquarters of Euromilk – a company linked to the Casalesi clan, in particular to Michele Zagaria and his family members Nicola and Filippo Capaldo – had fallen into disrepair after two fires and years of abandonment, becoming an illegal landfill.
Today, thanks to a 2,3 million euro project, a sports center will be built with a swimming pool, soccer field, green areas and parking.
"Completing this intervention was not easy," explained Gianni Allucci, CEO of Agrorinasce, the agency that managed the recovery. "This is why we wanted to celebrate the laying of the first stone, a sign of a concrete rebirth."
Mayor Anacleto Colombiano stressed the importance of the project: "Social conscience is awakened here. We are building a better future for our youth."
In Casapesenna, a hostel for European volunteers
A few kilometers away, in Casapesenna, a property confiscated from Alfredo Zara has been transformed into the Euro-Mediterranean Center and Youth Hostel, active for ten years and now enriched by a new co-working space for young businesses.
The property, assigned to the Giosef Italy association, has become a point of reference for cultural exchanges and international volunteering, also financed by EU funds. "It hosts young people from all over Europe, socially engaged tourists and participants in cultural events," explained Allucci.
The expansion works, financed with 1,3 million euros by the Ministry of the Interior, also included the renovation of another confiscated property, intended to be a Youth Center for Art and Culture.
Institutions united for the redemption of the territory
The event was attended by the Minister of the Interior Piantedosi, the Minister of Sport Abodi and the Vice President of the Campania Region Bonavitacola, together with prefects, mayors and representatives of the police force.
A challenge won against degradation, which demonstrates how confiscated assets can become opportunities for communities, restoring hope to a territory long oppressed by organized crime.
Article published on 7 April 2025 - 19:56
The idea of transforming confiscated assets into places for the community is very interesting. However, I wonder if they will be truly sustainable in the long term. Let's hope that the commitment of the institutions is not just a coup de theatre.