Tourism within everyone’s reach! – Italy

The rediscovery of a unique place thanks to the ParteNeapolis cooperative.

Since 2000, the ParteNeapolis social cooperative make people discover the treasures of Naples.

The monumental complex of Sant’Anna dei Lombardi is one of the jewels with which the city centre of Naples has been classified as UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995

With dedicated itineraries, the cooperative allows visitors to enjoy the frescoes by Giorgio Vasari, the ‘Lamentation over the Dead Christ’ by Guido Mazzoni (terracotta sculptures of great realistic effect thanks to the detail and expressiveness of the faces), the Crypt of the Abbots (a place of expiation and burial located under the high altar), and all the chapels lateral to the nave, which hosting the graves of famous families from the 1500s.

The church, founded in 1411 in Piazza Monteoliveto in Naples and entrusted to the monks of the Olivetan order, is characterised by the architectural style, and works of the Tuscan Renaissance, evidence of the presence of wealthy Florentine lords in the Neapolitan city. In 1801, King Ferdinand IV of Naples assigned the monumental complex to the Archconfraternity of the Lombards, who had lost their church dedicated to St Anne and close to the Olivetan church, due to the collapse of the ceiling.

The cooperative contributes to making the beauty of Naples accessible and usable for all. It takes care of the monumental complex and organises its exploration, through specialised personnel or with the support of an audio guide and organises engaging and innovative activities throughout the metropolitan city.

By including ‘disadvantaged people’ in its team, it promotes social and local tourism by drawing on the territory itself.

The collaborations with schools, third sector organisations, public and private sector, and citizens are many, as are the variety of activities and ideas, pursued with professionalism and passion by the cooperative that make the business model competitive.

For instance, the cooperative organizes educational workshops for schools and families as well. Joyful and educational moments to experience the monumental complex as a site open to socialisation, confrontation, and learning. In addition, in the Sala Vasari it is possible to organise conferences, meetings, and events: in this case, the cooperative offers, on request, an all-inclusive service (which means ‘everything included’, but also ‘everyone included’), also arranging the catering service, a tour of the city on request and anything else the guest may need.

Participation and sustainability are the concepts that guide us along a path that sees social tourism services as a means of developing territorial resources and enhancing the cultural heritage of Naples and its Province.

Among the latest innovations is a physical-virtual and interactive tour: ‘This new digital and immersive tour has been very successful. It allows the visitor to have a unique experience, with continuous cross-references between reality and the superimposition of a virtual universe, where the route is always determined by the visitor and his choices. The development of this particular tour saw the commitment of many young people, cultural and social workers, videomakers, content creators, developers, and computer technicians, who brought together different skills and abilities to create a unique product. The result was greeted with amusement, especially by young people who know a thing or two about high-tech; not to mention adults who return to visit after years and bring their friends! Visiting Naples is never the same as the previous time: working to make it more and more curious, attractive, and open to everyone is our goal,’ comments President Mario Sicignano.

The ‘Open heART Musemum‘ project, on the other hand, is dedicated to making the monumental complex totally accessible, making it possible for all people to experience the beauty of the ‘St. Anne of Lombardi Museum’, regardless of their physical, sensory, intellectual, cultural, linguistic, and religious characteristics. Work has just begun and will be completed by next November, so one must experience to understand.

Sant’Anna de Lombardi will be one of the sites visited during the Social Cooperative International School (SCIS2023) in the first session on 6 October “Green+Inclusive! Social cooperatives’ way to full sustainability”

You haven’t registered to attend the SCIS yet? Find here all the information you need!