€70 million for Irpinia: MAECI and Province of Avellino sign sustainable tourism agreement

A convention was signed at the Farnesina between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAECI) and the Province of Avellino, awarding the province €70 million as part of the "Turismo delle Radici" program (FSC 2021–2027). The agreement, dated 13 May 2026, aims to boost tourism in internal areas through projects focused on historic villages, pilgrimage routes and slow mobility infrastructure.

• Historic village enhancement: measures to attract sustainable tourist flows and strengthen links with diaspora communities.
• Cammino di Guglielmo: improved signage, accommodation facilities and services for walkers, integrating the route into the South Italy walking network.
• Station and railway node upgrades: converting Avellino's nodes into gateways for slow tourism and multimodal mobility hubs.
• Avellino–Rocchetta Sant'Antonio rail-cycle route: flagship project to transform the line into a tourist corridor with equipped hubs and connecting local routes.

The allocation to the Province of Avellino is the largest among the four implementing bodies in the measure. The Turismo delle Radici program, active since 2022, seeks to strengthen ties with Italians abroad and promote sustainable tourism in small towns and inland areas. Practical goals include improving integrated transport, enhancing landscape and historical assets, and creating services for visitors and residents.

Next steps include executive project planning, identifying hubs along the rail-cycle route and coordinating with local networks to integrate transport, hospitality and cultural offerings.