Second Partner’s Meeting in Cagliari

On October 11-14, 2023 – the second Micropolis project meeting took place in Cagliari – Sardinia

The CCN Cagliari Centro Storico Association wanted to present to its guests in a lively and objective way its areas of activity, the attractiveness of the territory and local activities of its inhabitants, as well as the problems we face and ways of solving them.

During our stay, we presented the area of our activity: the Marina district in Cagliari – one of the four districts of the city, but also other nearby places of close cooperation, we learned about the main attractions of our territory: the Sant’Eulalia Museum, local enterprises – decision-makers in setting the budgets and priorities of the district: hoteliers, shopkeepers, restaurateurs, jewelers, handicraftsmen, the management of regional Caritas, a tourist info point and other associations.

On October 12, 2023 – at the Italia Hotel – the Micropolis conference was held with the participation of local speakers – Gian Luca Mureddu, Luigi Dedoni, Don Marco Lai, Giancarlo Dessi, Paolo Angius.

Each of the local speakers represented a different enterprise or structure, each of them could talk about cooperation and creating a local community from a different point of view.

Gian Luca Mureddu is a craftsman, goldsmith and president of CCN Cagliari and regional president of CCN Sardinia. He organizes events on an international scale, but the climate, safety and attractiveness of the Marina – Micropolis district, where he and his wife manage a jewelry factory, are very important to him. In addition, he organizes seasonal meetings and events for residents of the center and tourists, he talked about what the district looked like before the founding and operation of the association, how residents were unable to come to terms with some restrictions (e.g. closing narrow streets for cars and designating quiet streets for pedestrians), how many activities that are good and useful for one group of people may be a limitation and a problem for another, therefore – appropriate cooperation with political and government bodies and conversation with residents – can balance and offset some losses, and indicate the resulting including benefits.

Giancarlo Dessì – owner of Osteria Paradiso, restaurateur and organizer of cultural and musical events, talked about the attention we must devote to shaping the local menu and offering typical dishes, it is very important to preserve our roots. Residents are very eager to get involved in gastronomic events organized by Paolo – they co-create a gastronomic day with entrepreneurs – combined with good music and literature.

Don Marco Lai – Parish Priest of the local church and director of Caritas of the Sardinia region – talked about the work that the entire parish is doing. Volunteer cooperation of many individuals for the benefit of immigrants, organizing Italian language courses and cultural events in which people interact, live and learn regardless of cultural and religious affiliation. Organizes, among others: Technical, linguistic, educational and religious training, but also charity dinners – collection of donations combined with a gastronomic event (in the Marina district there are several dozen restaurants available in a very small area), the aim of which is to raise funds to help people, but also to strengthen local belonging and heritage cultural and social bonds. He also explained the cooperation with local enterprises, where they jointly welcome tourists and

participate in church events. This intertwining of all values, cultures, religions, languages and preferences makes Cagliari a cosmopolitan place, a place in the world that teaches cooperation, respect for others and openness of heart and mind.

Then, Paolo Angius, a trader with long family roots, spoke about the transformation of the historic center and the importance of shops, trade and entrepreneurs, who are mainly the lymph of change and the city’s good economy, for the inhabitants of the historic and port city on the island. The city’s small influence and low economic status are a threat to every place, which is why sustainable urban population, bringing entire families to live in the historic center, and creating a city friendly to people of all ages and status are so important.

Finally, Gianluca Mureddu, presented us with the evolution of the center of Cagliari, its strengths and weaknesses, and warned against careless policies and wrong decisions causing harm to society. It takes businesses, citizens and politicians to work together to create a center of life for people: comfortable, safe, clean, attractive and beautiful. Beauty breeds beauty, and in such a place – the inhabitants themselves become better. After these many changes, Cagliari gained 80% economically, while the danger and robberies in the area decreased by about 95%, the value of real estate also increased and the quality of local services offered increased.

October 13, 2023 was a concluding day of joint meetings, conversations and a time to present the results of local research and discuss guidelines for individual partners to be implemented before the third meeting in Middelfart, scheduled for May 2024.