Reggio Calabria becomes a crossroads of spirituality, culture and sustainable tourism. This morning, in the evocative setting of the National Archaeological Museum, the project "Caminhos de Paulo - The Paths of Paul" was presented , an initiative that retraces the steps of the apostle Paul from Syracuse to Rome, crossing Sicily, Calabria, Campania and Lazio.
Promoted by the association GIA - Giornalisti Italiani Associati together with the agency TXT Viaggi, the project aims to build an international network of conscious tourism, capable of connecting Southern Italy with countries such as Brazil, Argentina, Panama, Santo Domingo and the United States.
A project that speaks of vision and concreteness
he speakers included GIA President Andrea Ruggeri, TXT Viaggi Vice President Patrizia D'Aguì, Reggio Calabria Municipality Tourism Delegate Giovanni Latella, historian and university lecturer Daniele Castrizio, along with numerous institutional and territorial representatives.
Absent due to parliamentary commitments was Hon. Francesco Cannizzaro, repeatedly cited for his strategic role in the infrastructural revitalization of Reggio Calabria.
"Caminhos de Paulo," Patrizia D'Aguì stressed, "was born in a context of major investments that are changing the face of the South. The strengthening of the Strait airport and the collaboration with Ryanair are the fruit of the vision of Hon. Cannizzaro and President Occhiuto. Today, the Reggio Calabria airport has become vital and strategic again: a springboard for dreaming big."
"A special thanks," he added, "goes precisely to Hon. Cannizzaro, who with his idea of making Reggio Calabria the Monte Carlo of the South gives projects like this a real prospect for development.
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PHOTOGALLERY LAUNCH
Structured tourism and real economic impact
During the presentation, Patrizia D'Aguì also explained the numbers of the initiative:
"In the first three years we expect 9,000 tourists, with an average expenditure of 350 euros per person and a direct induced income of more than 3.1 million euros. Thanks to the Caminhos Fidelity Card, which will reward purchases in local businesses, we estimate a further 10 percent growth in the territorial economy."
The card," he explained, "will be a loyalty tool that incentivizes local spending and supports a circular economy model, turning every euro spent into points to be reused along the way.
"It is a model of smart tourism," he added, "capable of generating economic and human value. Not just visitors, but relationships, opportunities and new prospects for those who want to stay and build future here."
From the South to the world: Reggio capital of cultural and religious tourism
GIA President Andrea Ruggeri emphasized the novelty of the project:
"Caminhos de Paulo is a path that starts in the South and arrives in Rome, following in the footsteps of the Apostle of the Gentiles. It is not a seasonal experience but a year-round active path, capable of attracting pilgrims and tourists from Brazil, Latin America, the United States, Australia and New Zealand. We combine spirituality, organization and beauty in a single proposal that enhances our South."
Reggio institutions team up
Tourism delegate Giovanni Latella, bringing greetings from the Municipality of Reggio Calabria, highlighted the strategic value of the initiative:
"Pilgrimage merges with experiential tourism. It is an extraordinary opportunity to enhance the city and its still little-known sites. We are preparing to offer services and reception that are up to the mark."
In the same vein was City Councilor Massimo Ripepi, who remarked:
"Finally, an organized and structured tourism that brings Reggio into the international spotlight. Important flows will arrive from Latin America: we must be ready to welcome them."
Identity and territorial pride
Also much appreciated was the speech by historian Daniele Castrizio, who recalled:
"St. Paul passed through Reggio, leaving here the first bishop of Italy. But often it is we, the people of Reggio, who forget our history. Caminhos de Paulo can help us rediscover it, give it a voice. It is not enough to show a museum: we need to tell, to excite, to build narratives."
A living, participatory network
Numerous institutional representatives were present, including Francesco Raso, president of AGCI Calabria, the mayor of San Roberto Antonino Micari, and the presidente of the Villese Commerce Committee, Maria Idone, who confirmed the desire to make Villa San Giovanni a symbolic and welcoming stop on the Pauline journey.
Kudos also to the Municipalities of the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria who sponsored the project, testifying with their presence a convinced adherence to the territorial development vision.
The South walks. And this time, it leads the way.
"Caminhos de Paulo" is not just a project, but a concrete and courageous vision that from the South opens to the world, interweaving faith, culture and development.
Reggio Calabria is no longer the land of waiting: it is the starting point of a new journey, where the Apostle Paul's journey becomes a metaphor for rebirth and a shared future..
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