The appeal of the villages

In Trentino, the project submitted by the Municipality of Palù del Fersina – Palai en Bersntol , entitled‘The Strength of the Minority: the rebirth of a village of Germanic origin south of the Alps’, has been approved for the Trentino region. This project envisages the establishment of new functions, infrastructure and services in the fields of culture – centred on the Mòcheno linguistic and cultural identity – tourism (community-based hospitality) and social welfare, including the development of culturally-based programmes.

A project capable of expressing the Mòcheno identity in its many facets – not only linguistic, but also linked to cultural traditions, patterns of settlement across the territory, characteristic activities such as livestock farming and agriculture, as well as the protection of the environment and landscape and the area’s appeal for tourism and outdoor pursuits, and to forge a path of development with highly innovative features, whilst remaining true to the history of the village of Palù del Fersina.

In the valley, a language spoken since the Middle Ages is still in use: Mòcheno. The language is preserved and passed down from generation to generation, preventing its extinction and keeping linguistic biodiversity alive. 

Among the project’s most significant proposals is the creation of a work to be called ‘the Ark of Minority Languages’. This installation, or journey, aims to safeguard and promote the world’s extraordinary linguistic diversity and provides opportunities to reflect on the risks associated with the decline in linguistic biodiversity. 

There are also plans for initiatives aimed at fostering economic development and improving quality of life:

• the development of cultural and scientific tourism;
• the development of green tourism;
• strengthening community-based hospitality;
• development of the agricultural and pastoral sector;
• enhancing residential facilities;
• urban regeneration;
• support for flexible working arrangements;
• promotion of sustainable mobility;
• digitalisation of the local area.

The strategy and the individual implementation measures have been agreed with local stakeholders and residents through a participatory process. 

The initiative also supports business ventures capable of restoring the residential appeal of these areas and creating new jobs, particularly for younger generations.

See the slides for the PNRR project – regeneration of villages

To support economic and social revitalisation and set in motion a process of regeneration for the Palù del Fersina and Val dei Mocheni areas.

The starting point is to promote the area’s defining characteristic – namely, its status as a linguistic minority– and to develop cultural projects that enhance the area’s appeal whilst safeguarding the local environment and adapting to climate change, and that encourage people to live and interact in a vibrant, empathic and innovative ways within the area.

Target: the Autonomous Province of Trento is contributing to the implementation of 28 of the 40 initiatives in the project run by the Municipality of Palù del Fersina-Palai en Bersntol

The Municipality of Palù del Fersina-Palai en Bersntol, which has engaged the Autonomous Province of Trento as an external implementing body for 28 projects

The implementation of the PNRR in Trentino forms an integral part of the provincial policy framework for sustainable development, in line with the policies set out in the Provincial Economic and Financial Document and the related Update Note.

PNRR funding: €20,000,000

By Resolution No. 356 of 15 March 2022, the Provincial Executive approved the application for Palù del Fersina and the associated feasibility study; on the same date, the project was submitted to the Ministry of Culture. The strategy and the individual implementation measures were shared with local stakeholders and residents through a participatory process.

By Decree No. 453 of 7 June 2022, the Ministry allocated the sum of 20,000,000 euros to the Municipality of Palù del Fersina under Line A of the measure on the regeneration of historic villages.

The Provincial Executive has therefore approved:

• the terms and conditions relating to the acceptance of the funding granted by the Ministry of Culture (Resolution No. 1480 of 12 August 2022)
• the draft cooperation agreement between the Autonomous Province of Trento and the Municipality of Palù del Fersina – Palai en Bernstol – for the implementation of the project (Resolution No. 1912 of 28 October 2022) and the supplementary agreements (Resolutions No. 1195 of 7 July 2023, No. 331 of 28 March 2024, No. 1370 of 6 September 2024, No. 138 of 14 February 2025)
• the Public Notice for the support of business initiatives carried out in the municipality of Palù del Fersina under the PNRR (Resolution No. 1510 of 18 August 2023 and Decision No. 12321/2023)
• the Public Notice for the regeneration and enhancement of the rural architectural and landscape heritage for rural accommodation – INTERVENTION No. 15 (Resolution No. 563/2024)
• the Public Notice for the submission of proposals for the refurbishment of façades or the comprehensive refurbishment of private residential buildings – INTERVENTION 27 (Resolution No. 1712/2024)
• the criteria and procedures for granting financial assistance for the regeneration of alpine refuges – PROJECT 13
• the Call for Proposals for the promotion of agricultural activity – INTERVENTION 35 (Resolution No. 1485/2025)

With regard tothe call forproposals to supportentrepreneurial initiatives in the Municipality of Palù del Fersina, based on the assessment carried out by the Evaluation Committee and the ranking list approved in November 2023,four projects were fundedfor a total grant of 465,989.35 (3 completed); 10 initiativeswere approved under the ‘Widespread Hospitality’call for proposals andtwo projects relating to the call for proposalsfor the refurbishment of private buildings. 

For further information, please see the ‘Related Services’ sections.

Overall, the implementation of the project is in line with the deadlines set out in the PNRR.