The official signing of the agreement for the management and valorisation of the Archaeological Museum and Park of Ancient Medma-Rosarno, recently approved by the Metropolitan Council, took place in the Trisolini Hall of Palazzo Alvaro, headquarters of the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria.
The meeting was attended by representatives of the three bodies involved in the agreement, the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria, the Regional Directorate of Calabria National Museums with the Museum and Archaeological Park of Ancient Medma, and the Municipality of Rosarno.
Objectives of the agreement and value of the site
During the press conference, the contents and objectives of the agreement were illustrated, the result of a shared path aimed at ensuring unitary management of the Museum and the Archaeological Park, increasing public use and strengthening its protection, promotion and cultural valorisation activities.
The agreement concerns one of the most significant places of the Calabrian archaeological heritage: the Ancient Medma complex, which includes the Museum, the archaeological park area and the historicized collections that are kept in them. The site insists on areas of different ownership, belonging to the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria and the State Property – Artistic, Historical, Archaeological Branch, and will be managed in a coordinated and integrated manner, according to the respective institutional competences of the subscribing bodies.
The role of the Regional Directorate of Calabria National Museums
With the signing of the agreement, the Regional Directorate of National Museums of Calabria assumes the unitary management of the entire site, guaranteeing scientific management, the organization of valorisation and promotion activities, opening to the public, ticketing, safety obligations, as well as ordinary, scheduled and extraordinary maintenance interventions. The Museums Directorate will also take care of the activation of additional services, educational, scientific, editorial activities and cultural initiatives consistent with the historical-archaeological nature of the place.
The commitment of the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria
The Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria, owner of some parcels and of the property intended as a Museum, grants the Calabria Regional Directorate of National Museums free use of the assets it owns included in the Antica Medma complex, without any fee, in order to allow stable, unitary and fully functional management for the valorisation of the site. The metropolitan body will also collaborate in the tourist and cultural promotion of the area through its institutional channels and through specific activities linked to the knowledge and valorisation of the metropolitan territory.
The contribution of the Municipality of Rosarno
The Municipality of Rosarno will contribute to the management and enhancement of the site through forms of active collaboration, making staff and tools available to support ordinary maintenance, in particular for cleaning the paths, access paths and areas in front of the Museum and the Park. The Municipality will also be able to propose and support cultural events and initiatives, always in agreement with the management of the site and in compliance with the needs of protecting the archaeological heritage.
Future developments and additional services
The agreement also provides for the possibility of planning training activities, aimed at creating specialized professionals in the metropolitan area in the areas of protection, management and valorisation of cultural heritage. The parties will also be able to define, with subsequent implementation agreements, further additional services, including educational activities, bookshops, scientific initiatives, care of the Park’s arboreal heritage, use of the fruit of the olive trees present in the areas of metropolitan property and possible activation of refreshment services compatible with the protection needs of the site.