On Monday, April 27, the village of Opi will host the first event in the series “Vulnerable Areas, A Possible Future.” An exceptional discussion on the revitalization of the Apennines with the director of *Un mondo a parte*.
The future of inland areas is a key challenge for L’Aquila, the 2026 Italian Capital of Culture. With the goal of transforming territories often described as “vulnerable” into engines of development and active communities, the series of meetings titled “Vulnerable Areas: A Possible Future” is kicking off, promoted by the City of L’Aquila and organized by the Magna Carta Foundation.
The first event, titled “Inland Areas on the Move: That Unique World That Draws People In,” will be held on Monday, April 27, at 11:00 a.m. in the Council Chamber of the Municipality of Opi (AQ), one of the most significant towns in the Abruzzo, Lazio, and Molise National Park.
Dialogue: Between Cinema and Reality
The special guest at the event will be director Riccardo Milani, creator of the film “Un mondo a parte.” Through his film, he has captured with extraordinary sensitivity the beauty and challenges of the Apennine landscapes, bringing the issue of depopulation in mountain villages to the attention of the general public nationwide.
Milani will speak with Gaetano Quagliariello, president of the Magna Carta Foundation, to explore how cultural storytelling can reverse the trend of depopulation, transforming these places into premier destinations. Annamaria Parente, director of the Foundation’s Observatory on the Demographic Crisis, will moderate the discussion.
Opi as a Workshop for Identity
The choice of Opi as the venue for the discussion is no coincidence: the village represents that “stronghold of identity” which, through cinema and civic engagement, is rediscovering its appeal.
“Holding this discussion in Opi means choosing a symbolic location that has reignited the debate on rural Italy,” said Pierluigi Biondi, mayor of L’Aquila. “Our goal is to build a solid cultural infrastructure: vulnerable areas are not places that need to be assisted, but communities that need to be empowered—communities capable of attracting energy, ideas, and new opportunities for growth. “
A Heritage Worth Rediscovering
According to Gaetano Quagliariello, president of the Magna Carta Foundation, this debate is essential: “These regions seem to have lived for a long time under a glass dome. While this has limited their development on the one hand, it has preserved their authenticity on the other. Our discussion with Riccardo Milani offers us the opportunity to view this reality through a fresh lens, fueling the serious debate on the future of inland areas that the country can no longer put off.”
The event fits perfectly into the L’Aquila 2026 program, confirming that “Aree interne in cammino” is not just a series of meetings, but a strategic initiative to highlight the natural, cultural, and social heritage that makes our region unique.