Caprino’s Traditions and Future: Sustainable Growth and Tourism

Economical Caprino made an impressive display for five days, from Friday, July 28 to Saturday, August 5. During this period, the traditional Fiera montebaldina, a trade fair showcasing agricultural, commercial, and artisanal products from Caprino, was held once again this year. The 2000 edition was the 247th in history.

Origins and development of the event

“An event that started around three centuries ago, but whose roots go back to the 12th century, showcasing the productive realities of our area,” says Maria Teresa Girardi, the mayor. “Initially, the focus was mainly on agriculture, but later, other sectors developed, including industry, commerce, and craftsmanship.” As the economic landscape evolved, the Municipality had to continuously adapt.

“Caprino has always been a pioneer; it was the first to transition from an agricultural economy to an industrial one, then expanded into the tertiary sector and services. Due to its pioneering role, it also bore the brunt first, sometimes facing difficult impacts of the ongoing changes,” Girardi continues.

Future and sustainable tourism

“We are now in a phase of transition; just think of how the commerce sector has transformed in recent years, from family-owned shops to supermarkets, and then to hypermarkets. What is needed now is a strong idea for future development.” The mayor, Maria Teresa Girardi, sees eco-compatible tourism as a potential strategy.

“Our territory is ecologically intact, rich in historical and architectural evidence. The Baldo range is our future, with the development of a real system to enhance it, which obviously also considers the lake’s environment. The Fair is a moment of reflection on the role our area will play in the future, which does not mean loss but change,” she explains.

Opportunities and economic dynamics

The mayor disagrees with the overly alarmist view that Caprino is dying or has lost opportunities. “The only train we’ve missed is the Verona Caprino train, which no longer runs,” she jokes. “Otherwise, data shows that our community is economically solid; I reiterate that we are changing, but we are far from crises.”

In our municipality, there are no unemployed residents, the literacy rate is high, and school dropout rates are low. Almost all citizens own their houses or possess land or fields. Even if a historic company like Cometti has closed, there are already requests from smaller, potentially more suitable companies to settle here.

I don’t see this as a portrait of a town on the decline; quite the opposite, we are recovering from the crisis and depopulation we experienced about ten years ago,” Antonella Traina concludes.