It kicks off on Friday, June 28, from Oppido Lucano, the cycle of workshops carried out by Italea Basilicata as part of the Tourism of Roots project desired by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, funded by the European Union and in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture.

Italea Basilicata is the Lucanian declination of Italea’s national project, managed by the company Paesi e Radici, winner of Maeci’s call for regional activities on tourism of origins.

Among the activities to be carried out is the enhancement, storytelling and promotion of the Basilicata destination addressed to Lucanians around the world through a number of events in the area in collaboration with local organizations, the Territorial Promotion Agency (APT), institutions and the production system to reconnect with Italian-descendants and strengthen the tourism offer to them.

The first appointment of the cycle, which is called “Making Roots,” features Oppido Lucano by virtue of precisely an ancient identity of exchange with South America, particularly with the community of Iquique in Chile, with which the Bradanan town is twinned.

The appointment is for 6:30 p.m. at the Johannes Obadiah Cineteatro and will include greetings from Oppido Lucano Mayor Mirco Evangelista, Pro Loco Oppido President Luca Mennuni, Potenza Province Councilor Rocco Pappalardo and Regional Coordinator of the Roots Tourism Project for MAECI Elvira De Giacomo.

Speakers at the meeting will include Antonio Cervellino, cultural mediator; Michele Cappiello, president of Paesi e Radici and head of the Italea Basilicata group; Vito Marone, author of the book “Felicia. Cronaca di un viaggio straordinario” and Cristina Amenta, production director of the Basilicatё project. Annalisa Romeo, vice president of Paesi e Radici, will coordinate.

The craft workshop “The Baskets of Memory” by Rocco Avigliano will be set up on the occasion, with the aim of making objects of local tradition to be entrusted to the Basilicatё project for installations planned in various initiatives abroad.

Finally, a representation of the Oppido Lucano community in Iquique is scheduled to participate via web link from Chile.

The next dates of the cycle are scheduled in July in Colobraro and Maratea, and then other scheduled dates will be defined.