“Enhancing and strengthening the ties between the village and those who, over the years, have left for new destinations”
The Municipality of Orria has launched an ambitious project called “Turismo delle Radici” (Tourism of the Roots), an initiative aimed at enhancing and strengthening the ties between the village and those who, over the years, have left for new destinations. At the heart of this project is the concept of “tornanza,” a deep feeling that represents the attraction to one’s place of origin, a force that, despite the distance, continues to bind those who have left to their roots.
An Unbreakable Bond
Those who leave often experience a state of mind that fuels the desire to reconnect with their roots, which often generates the desire to return. While those who decide to leave will always maintain this bond, those who remain can travel with their imagination through the stories of those who have left.
Upcoming Events
To celebrate this special bond, the Municipality of Orria has planned a series of events that will take place on August 2 in the hamlet of Piano Vetrale and on August 14 in Orria Cilento. These events will not only pay tribute to emigrants, but will also welcome those who return and help build a more aware and united community. Here is the program:
Friday, August 2 – 2024– Piano Vetrale
Meeting and Debate on Emigration – 8:30 p.m. – Piazza Santa Sofia An opportunity to discuss and share life stories, successes, and difficulties encountered far from home, creating a mosaic of experiences that enriches and unites.
Mural Inauguration – 9:30 p.m. – Piazza della Vittoria A mural dedicated to one of the most common forms of emigration today, that of young graduates. Created by Dina Spiragli, the mural is entitled “The brain drain and the return.”
Musical performance – from 10:00 p.m. – Due Punto Zero Band
Wednesday, August 14 – 2024– Orria
Emigrant Festival: A Return to Roots amid Hospitality and Conviviality
From 8:00 p.m. in the heart of the charming village of Orria, the historic center comes alive with lights, colors, and sounds, transforming itself into a welcoming embrace for returning emigrants. This special evening, entirely dedicated to those who once left the village to seek their fortune elsewhere, is an affectionate tribute to the roots and bonds that, despite the distance, have never been broken.
The town’s businesses, with generosity and community spirit, open their doors to offer free food and drink to all guests. This tradition of hospitality allows visitors to savor local specialties, accompanied by a backdrop of chatter, laughter, and music.
A Future of Value
The energy of those who return can revolutionize the situation, bringing new ideas and renewing the vitality of the community. This is what the municipality hopes to achieve through the “Turismo delle Radici” (Tourism of Roots) project. Orria Cilento aims to become a model for promoting its origins, with a return to its roots representing a driver of growth and sustainable development for the area. It is an invitation to rediscover one’s roots and to see returning not as a step backward, but as a step forward toward a future of value, rich in shared experiences and renewed perspectives.
Ornella Mastrogiovanni Correspondent for the Municipality of Orria and Wigwam Cilento 2024