We recently reported that Lecce, in Puglia’s Salento Peninsula, is one of six Italian cities selected to compete to become 2019 European Capital of Culture. Now, Italian Premier Enrico Letta says he’d like to develop a similar program within Italy, according to the Italian news agency ANSA. Letta is proposing a program he calls “Italian Capital of Culture” as a way “to stimulate private investments.”
While Lecce is an obvious choice to be designated a “Capital of Culture” because of its globally recognized artistic and architectural heritage, this program could provide the impetus for other cities in Puglia to focus new attention on their cultural heritage. Earning the “Italian Capital of Culture” designation could help foster preservation and promotional programs that would help other cities benefit culturally, and economically, from the treasures they already possess.
Photo by Sandro Bedessi © Fototeca ENIT