Tourism and sport: a winning formula

Partner of the SPACHE project, the municipality of Gargnano has tested the pilot program «Culture in motion». Paolo Zerneri, Head of the «Demography and Sports» department of the municipality, shares his feedback.

Gargnano is a little town on Lake Garda, located in the “Protected North Garda Area Park”, characterised by a prominent touristic vocation. Signs of a prestigious history and local traditions have given us the possibility to link physical activities to our territory.
The Pilot Program “Culture in Movement”, developed by the Municipality and the ASD Alto Garda Volley, consists of a series of physical activities connected to the historical, cultural and natural patrimony of our area.

We proposed:

• Yoga and Circuit Training in the monumental garden of “Villa Bettoni”, a private historical house still owned by the Counts Bettoni family. An absolutely incredible experience!
• Postural Gymnastics inside the “La Malora”, lemon house of Gandossi family: a typical and traditional structure for the growth of lemons, which remains today one of the few that respects the ancient traditions of citrus cultivation.
• Physical activities inside the olive grove in the Municipal Park overlooking the lake for kids and families.
  Sport activities for children in the main square of Gargnano, during which children and adults were told of the battle that took place there fighting the Austrian fleet, back in 1866.
• 16 Routes for Trekking guided and free, each one having a cultural, naturalistic, or historical theme, enriched at the end of the walk with the tasting of typical products:
  this is a winning formula!

“16 walking routes guided and free”

From these experiences, it is possible to draw some lessons. First, natural heritage, physical activities and local products can be a perfect mix to develop “sport tourism” and increase knowledge of territory and traditions. However, it must always be sustainable and respectful of the environment. Secondly, the sporting proposals within the natural patrimony of a territory, are certainly a lever both to improve the physical well-being of the participants, locals, and tourists alike, and to keep local traditions and natural beauties alive for the future generations.
Around 300 people, both local and non-local, children and adults of all ages, joined the Pilot Program from June to the end of September 2022, and a strong system with the local associations had been created.

Read the journal :

Sport and Citizenship 55 : enhancing sport and physical activity by culture