Tourist circuit for the enhancement of the town of Burgio

Location: Italy, Sicily, Burgio (Agrigento)
Committee: Town of Burgio
Financing: public
Inauguration: 2012
Description: creation of a tourist circuit of visits to enhance the use of the historical and artistic heritage and to valorize the culture and tourism in the territory.

Intervention Objective: The will of the municipal administration was to create a system offering sevices and places that allow them to highlight the history of Burgio, the historical and artistic heritage, the arts and crafts of the local tradition. At the same time as our project, the town had the MUCEB Ceramics Museum opened in 2012 with a collection of ancient pottery that valorized the distinctive characteristics of local production. For the application of deeper and broader projects to boost the tourist sector, the Town Council has made arrangements at an old railway station, already restored, with an adjoining garden that has become the focus of our intervention. The former railway station is now a visitor center where the tourist comes in contact with the history and traditions of Burgio, embracing the themes of the working of stone, iron, glass, bells, ceramics, cultural heritage and landscape (churches, sculptures, monuments, castle) and the popular traditions of the deep religious spirit that binds the people to the Venerable Andrea from Burgio.
Our work has allowed us to promote this heritage and to create a system of services and areas that favored the link between the various cultural attractions located in the municipal area (Ceramics Museum, shops, churches, monuments, nature park).
The ultimate goal, no less important, was to form a select group of young people for the future activities of management services to the public.

Syremont’s Activities:

study of history, antique arts and crafts, folk tradition and the cultural and natural heritage of the area;
production of educational content and dissemination of the entire communication system;
photographic and video footage of the country’s cultural heritage, popular demonstrations, craft shops;
production of a promotional video of the territory and traditions and interview with the Mayor;
production of all means of communication (informative panels, guide, road signs, banners, texts for the video);
preparation for a visitor center (outlet with local handicraft products – permanent exhibition – tasting area) equipped with video projections –
tasting area, ticket office and bookshop – photographic blow-ups;
construction of a landscaped garden adjacent to the visitor center equipped for the organization of outdoor events (exhibitions, festivals , promotional events), and for citizens’ enjoyment;
construction of a cafeteria equipped with a kitchen for food preparation and outdoor dining area;
a photo exhibition dedicated to the Venerable Andrea from Burgio at the Benedictine convent of Burgio;
building and plant works preparatory to the infrastructure listed;
training of young people on issues of management services to the public, knowledge of the history and traditions of local control and maintenance of equipped spaces.