Itinerary
The field-trip itinerary of “The Smart Villages of Italy” practicum included a 9-day-long visit in Sicily and Lombardy from August 26th to September 5th. During this intensive site visit to multiple sites, students engaged with public authorities, regional administrators, and local communities to learn about both private and public initiatives to confront shrinkage and promote remote working in rural areas.
Day 1 – August 27th – Catania & Favara
Favara Cultural Park founder Andrea Bartoli.
- Students met in Piazza Duomo in Catania to review the itinerary and discuss technology-oriented questions regarding 360-degree camera tools and Lidar technologies. Carmelo Ignaccolo introduced the team to Sicily and the city of Catania through a short historical narrative that examined the enduring risks and resilience of Sicily’s second-largest city.
- In the afternoon, the team drove to Favara in the Agrigento province for their first site visit at Favara Cultural Park (FCP)—a widely recognized and celebrated case of urban regeneration in the formerly dilapidated and largely abandoned historic center of Favara. The team was welcomed by the Bartoli-Saieva family, who introduced them to the history of Favara and its Cultural Park. Professor Ryan, Dr. Ignaccolo, photographer Mauro Guglielmotti, and FCP founder Andrea Bartoli shared the stage of the Riad during an evening panel on the international dimension of shrinkage, from Favara to Detroit.
Day 2 – August 28th – Mazzarino & Vizzini
- Andrea Bartoli and Florinda Saieva welcomed the class to their second urban regeneration project, “Palazzo Tortorici,” in the town of Mazzarino. Over lunch, offered by the Bartoli-Saieva family, the team learned about the challenges related to large renovation projects and cultural preservation regulations in Sicily while exchanging best practices on social innovation in the region.
- In the afternoon, the practicum team drove to Vizzini in the Catania province. On the way, the class stopped in the main piazza of Grammichele di Ganzaria, a newly planned town with an iconic hexagonal shape. In Vizzini, the class attended the evening celebration of St. John the Baptist and joined a night walk of the historic center, guided by local tourist guide Ms. Giulia Carfi.
Day 3 – August 29th – Vizzini
- The class started the day by “hacking” the ancient site of the “Cunzirie,” a tannery from the late 18th century that the regional government of Sicily selected to receive a 20 million euro grant to revitalize small, shrinking (and mostly abandoned) settlements. The funding is distributed by the European Union’s post-COVID Recovery Fund through the National Government.
MIT students busy mapping the Cunziria using 360-cameras
- The guided tour of the site was led by Mrs. Riggio, the director of the “Verga’s Imagery” museum in Vizzini, and was joined by Mr. Ferraro Salvatore, the Mayor of Vizzini; Mrs. Fabiola Di Benedetto, the Deputy Mayor of Vizzini; Mrs. Valentina Riggio, the Councilor for Sport and Youth Policies; Mr. Fazio, the Director of the Cultural Heritage Office of the Sicily Region; and Professor Paolo La Greca from the Urban Planning Department at Catania University. In the afternoon, Mayor Ferraro and Regional Head Fazio presented the regeneration plan for the Cunzirie and answered questions from MIT students about job opportunities and the role of technologies in shaping the urban environment of the Cunzirie.
- In the evening of the same day, the class left Vizzini and drove to the iconic star-shaped town of Centuripe, perched on the hills of the Enna province with an incredible view of Mt. Etna, Europe’s tallest and most active volcano. The class was warmly greeted by Mayor Salvatore La Spina and met many members of the local town government over dinner, along with some Americans who had relocated to Centuripe to perform remote jobs.
Day 4 – August 30th – Centuripe
- In the morning, Mayor La Spina organized a work session during which he introduced the history of Centuripe and its Roman ruins to the class. Additionally, Urban Planning Professor Francesco Martinico lectured on Sicily’s urban planning regulations, their pitfalls, and the potential for enduring growth despite demographic shrinkage. Elena Militello, president of South Working, joined the class in Centuripe.
- In the afternoon, the class had the opportunity to visit the local museum with Mayor La Spina and view the world-renowned marble head of Emperor Augustus. In the evening, the class returned to Catania.
Day 5 – August 31st – Milan
- The class left Sicily and took an early morning flight to Milan, where it was greeted by MISTI-Progetto Rocca partner Professor Giovanna Fossa at the Politecnico di Milano campus. The team then met with PoliMi Vice-President Professor Donatella Sciuto (now President of Politecnico) and Professor Stefano Capolongo, Head of the Department of Architecture, Built Environment, and Construction Engineering. Along with PoliMi partners, we attended a series of thematic talks by Professor of Conservation Stefano Della Torre and Professor of Telecommunications Antonio Capone, with the essential support of researchers Dr. Pimpinella and Dr. Boniotti. In the afternoon, the MIT and PoliMi team traveled to Tirano in the Alpine region of Val Tellina.
Day 6 – September 1st – Tirano
- Throughout the day, participants delved into Tirano’s cultural and environmental heritage, starting with meetings centered on the Interreg Project and the upcoming 2026 Olympic Winter Games. They explored the historic heart of Tirano, with a special focus on Palazzo Visconti Venosta and its surrounding open spaces. After a lunch break, the group attended insightful talks at the Mountain Community of Tirano. Arch. Sandra Zappella and Maurizio Federici from Lombardy Region discussed policies for preserving mountain landscapes and villages, while Ing. Dario Foppoli highlighted significant heritage projects in Valtellina. The day wrapped up with an immersive walk set in the scenic Tirano area, featuring landmarks such as the Santuario della Madonna di Tirano, the Greenway Adda, and the region’s apple orchards, terraced vineyards, and wineries.
Day 7 – September 2nd – Val Poschiavo & Teglio
- The day began with a train journey to Poschiavo, where Prof. Felix Günther from the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI) discussed the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Rhaetian Railway in the Albula/Bernina landscapes, focusing on the integration of mobility and hydropower infrastructures. Upon arrival in Poschiavo, participants visited the historical center and explored the Monastero Santa Maria, a remarkable example of modern architecture by Luigi Caccia Dominioni. After lunch, the group returned to Tirano by train and transferred to Teglio, where they visited the historic Palazzo Besta. The day concluded with an on-site workshop and a walk through the charming village of Teglio.
Day 8 – September 3rd – Via Dei Terrazzamenti & Sondrio
- The day involved an on-site tour along the “Via dei Terrazzamenti,” where participants traveled on foot and by bus, making stops in historical villages and enjoying lunch along the way. Later in the afternoon, they held institutional meetings and visited the historic center of Sondrio, where public authorities shared their vision on how to make Sondrio a hub for remote workers and for people working in Milan who can still perform their duties remotely for some days a week.