Ex-barracks in Lentini, Sicily to become cultural hub Caserma Creativa

In Lentini, a town of 21,000 between Syracuse and Catania, the former Carabinieri barracks—originally a 15th-century Dominican convent—will be transformed into Caserma Creativa, a cultural, social, and educational center. The building was abandoned after the 1990 Carlentini earthquake. In June 2024, cooperative Badia Lost & Found signed a public-private partnership with the Free Municipal Consortium of Syracuse, the first of its kind in Sicily under Law 50/2016. The cooperative, led by Giorgio Franco (born 1991), will secure, restore, and manage the 3,000 sqm complex for 50 years. Initial work includes decontamination and surveys, with a 'open construction site' approach planned over four years. The project aims to serve a catchment area of 45,000 people and includes co-working, events, and a café. Badia Lost & Found, part of the Farm Cultural Park network, previously created the Parco Urbano d'Arte in Lentini's Badia district, featuring over 40 street art works. The cooperative also plans to collaborate with other European reactivation projects and has presented its efforts to the Sicilian Regional Assembly.