Gathered around a table, the mayors of the eleven municipalities included in the new Buffer Zone of the UNESCO site "Pompeii, Herculaneum and Torre Annunziata-Oplonti" discussed shared strategies to enhance the area's immense archaeological and landscape heritage.
The meeting, organized by Unità Grande Pompei Led by General Giovanni Capasso, it was attended by top representatives of Campania's cultural institutions: from Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director of Pompeii, to Francesco Sirano, newly appointed head of the MANN, and Mariano Nuzzo, superintendent of the Naples Metropolitan Area. The Vesuvius National Park was also present, with its president Raffaele De Luca.
A common vision for eleven municipalities
The new Buffer Zone, approved by UNESCO in 2024 after a lengthy process, is not just a constraint but an opportunity. It is a buffer zone that, through visual and historical connections, connects the archaeological sites to the surrounding landscape, expanding tourist and cultural enjoyment. The municipalities involved—Pompeii, Torre Annunziata, Ercolano, Portici, Torre del Greco, Scafati, Castellammare di Stabia, Boscoreale, Boscotrecase, Trecase, and Terzigno—will now work together to develop shared projects.
Transportation and the "Pompeii Diffusa": The Most Urgent Challenge
Among the issues that emerged, transportation stands out. "We can't talk about valorization unless we improve mobility," Zuchtriegel emphasized. With Pompeii now reaching a peak of 20 visitors per day for security reasons, the other sites—from the Roman villas of Oplontis to those of Boscoreale—represent untapped potential. But to exploit this potential, an efficient rail network connecting Naples to Salerno is needed, overcoming the current fragmentation.
"We want democratic public transport, not spot-on tourist trains that create inequality," the director added. "The beauty of this area must be accessible to all, not confined to privileged routes." This concept was also reiterated by General Capasso, who called for a unified strategy for the sustainable development of the entire area, in line with the objectives of the Strategic Plan launched in 2013.
Future prospects: more cohesion, less fragmentation
Today's meeting marks a first step toward more coordinated governance. The hope is that municipalities, together with cultural institutions, will translate the emerging reflections into concrete action, focusing on shared communication and territorial development projects that involve the entire Buffer Zone.
"The challenge," Capasso concluded, "is to ensure that this area isn't just a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but a driving force for the socioeconomic growth of the entire region." Now it's up to local governments to take up the mantle.
It's important for municipalities to work together, but it's unclear how they'll improve transportation if there are already existing problems. Let's hope they find concrete solutions for everyone in the future.