Rasiglia, a village reborn thanks to tourism

We were there too Rasilia, a small medieval village in the Menotre Valley, a few kilometers from Foligno, Umbria. We visited out of curiosity, and to understand what's happening in this treasure trove of beauty, history, territory, and culture, which is striving, step by step, to preserve its heritage.

The main wealth of the village, which dates back to the 12th century, is the water with its streams. Thus for centuries the local population was able to live in excellent economic conditions, as the water, so abundant, powered mills and wool mills. A mix of high quality craftsmanship and real industry.

Then came the eclipse, like many Italian villages. Small woolen mills and small flour mills were no longer in fashion, costs became unsustainable, the village first impoverished and then depopulated under the pressure of mass emigration. Like many villages, which are trying to reborn in a thousand ways, including through bids on the market of houses for 1 euroIn Rasiglia there are little more than fifty inhabitants.

The path chosen by the small village to avoid disappearing was immediately very clear: to focus on Enhance local heritage and avoid wasting it. The web acted as a catalyst, thanks in part to the frenetic activity of the Association. Rasiglia and its springs who opened a very well-designed and well-documented website. Word spread online that Rasiglia, with its streams that reach right up to the houses, is "the Venice of Umbria," and that was enough to attract crowds of tourists.

During the summer of 2018, the mayor of Foligno (Rasiglia is one of its hamlets), Nando Mismetti, was forced to close the village to the cars of the overwhelming number of tourists. The decision didn't sit well with the residents, who, in addition to protesting, with the practicality of the Umbrian people, made their backyards available to guests for parking. They even convinced the mayor to temporarily use the soccer field as a parking area for tourists.

Meanwhile, the village is rebornA bar has finally reopened, a landmark in the area. Someone has decided to venture into the restaurant business. Connections and agreements have been forged with other jewel-like towns in the area, such as Montefalco, Bevagna, and Colfiorito, with the idea of ​​creating a art-inspired tourist circuit (the churches of Rasiglia are wonderful, starting from the small chapel dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul) and thefood and wine (The wine here is truly excellent.) And finally, we can say that beautiful Rasiglia is safe and has begun its second life, with around 12 people visiting it every weekend.

(The images are taken from the Facebook page of the association "Rasiglia and its sources")

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