L'Italo-Americano

www.italoamericano.org 8 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2024 L'Italo-Americano M a t e r a i s k n o w n f o r i t s s t o n e - c a r v e d architecture and unique cultural heritage, but this isn't why the town has made the front pages of Italian newspapers in recent times. After its stint as the European Capital of Culture in 2019, Matera received plenty of national and inter- national attention, especially thanks to its S a s s i . Even before that, its incredible her- itage and architecture became part of the UNESCO World Heritage List. N o w , a n e w c h a p t e r o f Matera's history may open, with some calling for a refer- endum to allow the town to become part of Puglia. The proposal, initiated by for- m e r s e n a t o r s C o r r a d o Danzi and Tito Di Maggio, is rooted in the belief that Puglia's thriving economy could provide Matera with an e x p a n d e d p l a t f o r m f o r growth and infrastructure development. However, the potential transfer sparked discussions in the country, highlighting both the antici- pated benefits and possible drawbacks of such a shift. Matera is one of Italy's oldest continuously inhabited cities, with origins dating back to the Paleolithic era. K n o w n a s t h e " C i t y o f Stone," it is famous for an extensive network of ancient cave dwellings, churches, and monasteries carved directly i n t o l i m e s t o n e c l i f f s , t h e Sassi. As mentioned, the push to annex Matera to Puglia has been led by Corrado Danzi and Tito Di Maggio, founders of the association Matera Terra d'Otranto. In Octo- ber 2024, they submitted an official request to Matera's city council to initiate a refer- endum on the matter. The proposal, backed by over 60 signatures, asks a simple but c o n s e q u e n t i a l q u e s t i o n : "Should the territory of the Municipality of Matera be separated from the region of Basilicata to join the region of Puglia?" According to Danzi and Di Maggio, the motiva- tions for this proposal lie in both economic and political dynamics; Basilicata's capital, Potenza, has been criticized for concentrating administra- tive power and resources, often at the expense of Mat- e r a . T h e f o r m e r s e n a t o r s argue that Matera's align- ment with Puglia could help i t t a p i n t o t h e e c o n o m i c momentum of cities like Bari and Lecce, and create new infrastructure projects and business opportunities. Fur- thermore, they believe that Matera could better integrate with nearby Pugliese cities such as Altamura and Grav- ina, with which it already shares geographical proximi- ty and cultural ties. The economic argument for Matera's transition, on the other hand, centers on Puglia's recent growth in tourism, infrastructure, and cultural industries. In the past decade, the heel of Italy has transformed itself into a prime travel destination, with cities like Alberobello and Bari attracting millions of visitors annually. The region- al administration has invest- ed in extensive tourism infra- structure, including airports, hotels, and cultural sites, which has created a high- quality support system for tourism businesses. Matera's proponents argue that by joining Puglia, the city could leverage these resources to bolster its own tourism sec- tor, which has already shown significant potential follow- ing its designation as a cul- tural capital . Another benefit includes a potential "domino effect" in which Matera's integration i n t o P u g l i a c o u l d i n s p i r e more effective regional col- laborations and increased investment across the neigh- boring areas of Basilicata and Puglia: collaborative efforts with Altamura and Gravina could further enhance eco- nomic activity and drive ini- t i a t i v e s f o c u s e d o n t h e region's unique limestone l a n d s c a p e a n d h i s t o r i c a l landmarks. Transitioning a city from one Italian region to another i s , h o w e v e r , a c o m p l e x legal and bureaucratic process, requiring multiple steps and substantial public support. As per Italian law, o n c e t h e c i t y c o u n c i l approves the referendum's f e a s i b i l i t y , D a n z i a n d D i Maggio will have 60 days to gather the necessary signa- tures from registered Matera residents. If the referendum proceeds, a local vote would need to occur within 120 days of the signature submission, with the outcome ultimately needing approval from the Italian Parliament . The pro- posal sparked debate among Matera's citizens and local politicians, with supporters viewing it as an opportunity to reduce Basilicata's admin- i s t r a t i v e r e s t r i c t i o n s a n d opponents cautioning against potential consequences. Key concerns include the bureau- c r a t i c h u r d l e s t h a t a n y regional transition entails and the potential loss of Mat- era's status as a provincial capital within Basilicata. But, even if ambitious, the i d e a o f s h i f t i n g r e g i o n a l boundaries is not unprece- dented: in 2017, for instance, the town of Sappada suc- cessfully transferred from Veneto to Friuli-Venezia Giu- lia. Similar to Matera, Sappa- da's residents viewed the change as a chance to benefit from a more advantageous r e g i o n a l e c o n o m y a n d administrative framework. The referendum process gar- nered overwhelming support from Sappada's residents, and while the transition pre- sented some initial adminis- trative challenges, it ulti- mately provided the town w i t h i m p r o v e d e c o n o m i c opportunities within its new region . A more complex case occurred in Valmarecchia, where seven towns transi- tioned from Marche to Emil- i a - R o m a g n a i n 2 0 0 9 , a change motivated by both economic and infrastructural considerations, as the towns wanted to be part of Emilia- Romagna's better-developed transportation and business n e t w o r k s . H o w e v e r , t h e process took years to com- plete. Danzi and Di Maggio are a d a m a n t t h a t t h e c h a n g e would be beneficial for Mat- era, but critics are quick to point out the city could lose important privileges by leav- ing Basilicata. As a provincial capital within the region, Matera holds a prominent role in its political and eco- nomic landscape, but transi- tioning to Puglia would mean sacrificing this provincial sta- tus, which could reduce its influence and shift adminis- t r a t i v e f o c u s t o l a r g e r Pugliese cities. Additionally, some locals fear that leaving Basilicata could result in the loss of specific funding and cultural initiatives that have historically supported Mat- era's development as a cul- tural hub . Another concern is the impact on Basilicata's tourism sector, as Matera is a significant draw for visitors to the region: if Matera tran- sitions to Puglia, Basilicata's tourism industry may suffer, potentially losing a primary attraction that brings both revenue and visibility to the region. This very important deci- sion will rest, ultimately, with Matera's citizens, who may soon have the opportunity to s h a p e t h e c i t y ' s f u t u r e through a historic referen- dum. But it won't be an easy decision, as they must weigh t h e p r o m i s e o f e c o n o m i c g r o w t h a n d i n t e g r a t i o n a g a i n s t t h e h e r i t a g e a n d established relationships that have long defined Matera's role in Basilicata. GIULIA FRANCESCHINI Matera's potential move to Puglia: a bold leap for Italy's iconic "City of Stone" The city of Matera is part of the UNESCO Heritage List (Photo: Freesurf1969) LIFE PEOPLE PLACES EVENTS

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