Caprino Aims for Art City Status to Boost Tourism and Preserve Heritage

Enhancing the territory of Caprino

Motivations and decisions of the Administration

The main motivation driving the municipal Administration to submit the request for the qualification of Tourist Municipality as an art city is the desire to maintain and safeguard the uniqueness of the Caprino area.

This choice, however, might seem at first glance to contradict the previously proclaimed intention to “march together as a district” for important requests alongside the neighboring municipalities. Aff, Rivoli, Cavaion, and Costermano have decided to partner with Castelnuovo and Pastrengo in order to achieve the same goal.

Clarifications on the decision

To dispel any doubts regarding this matter, clarifications from Palazzo Carlotti shed light on the decision taken. “Our intention remains to maintain good relations with the neighboring municipalities and to respect the choices made,” explains Delegate Councillor Francesco Sandri.

“However, as far as we are concerned, we decided to take a different route. Our territory possesses unique features both morphologically (being entirely mountainous) and historically, which is the most important factor in qualifying as an art city.”

Requirements and advantages

“We exceed the parameters required by law significantly,” continues Sandri. “We have well over twenty historic centers, whereas only one would suffice. The same applies to protected villas. In Caprino, there are eleven, but to qualify as an art city, only three are needed.

From an urban planning perspective, Caprino itself has a high residential density, similar to historic centers.” The immediate advantage would be the ability to benefit from exemptions for Sunday and holiday openings, although this is not the primary focus of the Municipal Administration.

“It is up to individual shopkeepers to decide whether to take advantage of this opportunity, and our officials are not particularly focused on it,” continues Sandri.

Long-term objectives

“The main long-term interest is to leverage the touristic appeal of the town.” Caprino is situated midway between the mountains and the lake, and obtaining this recognition would give greater weight to this goal.