Sicily allocates €103 million for cultural heritage restoration

The Sicilian Region has allocated €103 million from the PSC (Piano Sviluppo e Coesione 2021/2027) for approximately fifty restoration and archaeological excavation projects across Sicily. The initiative, proposed by Regional Councillor for Cultural Heritage and Sicilian Identity Alberto Samonà, aims to restore significant cultural heritage sites and ensure their protection, conservation, and enhancement. Major interventions include €17 million for the redevelopment of the Real Cittadella in Messina, €8 million for the Chiafura rock complex in Scicli (Ragusa), €7 million for a centralized anti-intrusion system for museums and archaeological parks, €5.3 million for the Museo delle Solfare di Trabia Tallarita (between Sommatino and Riesi), €3.6 million for the Duomo di San Giorgio in Modica, €3.3 million for the Villa Romana del Casale in Piazza Armerina, €2.5 million for the Villa Romana di Realmonte (Agrigento), €2 million for the archaeological area of Eraclea Minoa, €2 million for the Real Casina Cinese in Palermo, €1.8 million for the Tempio della Venere Ericina in Erice, and €1.5 million for excavations at the Hellenistic theatre of Halaesa Arconidea in Tusa. Samonà stated that caring for cultural heritage means looking to the future, creating conditions for economic development based on Sicily's identity and millennia-long history.