La Repubblica delle Foreste
Guardians of the Alpe della Luna
PNRR Award-Winning Project
a project promoted by the Municipalities of Badia Tedalda and Pieve Santo Stefano
organised by Casermarcheologica
with the support of Fondazione CR Firenze
Two municipalities united to tell
their story and shape a future
The Repubblica delle Foreste – Guardians of the Alpe della Luna is a project promoted by the municipalities of Pieve Santo Stefano and Badia Tedalda, winner of the PNRR call for proposals for the regeneration of historic villages.
The two municipalities have secured funding of two million and eighty thousand euros in non-co-financed grants, which also opens the door to accessing additional resources earmarked for small and medium-sized enterprises in the area.
An ambitious and engaging project dedicated to the enhancement, conservation and promotion of a unique territory.
Through four distinct clusters — Nature & Slow Tourism, Culture, Memory & Research, Youth, Environment & Sport, New Enterprises & Communication — we are committed to shaping a sustainable future, preserving the cultural and environmental richness of our forests.
Join us on this journey and discover how past, present and future intertwine in this special corner of our country, offering a quality of life in harmony with nature.
Download Presentation – Project Launch (July 2022) Download Presentation – Mid-Term Review (April 2024)15 interventions
4 thematic areas
A project we have built together with a great many associations that took part in the co-design process. The name, Repubblica delle Foreste, is a tribute to the communities of these territories, because “caring for and protecting mountain areas is a precious value not only for those who live there”. The planned interventions number fifteen, each comprising sub-interventions, and are gathered under four thematic areas.
Nature, Trails & Slow Tourism
This cluster includes the enhancement of interactive museums, the development of the tourist office and guide centre with an adjoining ecopoint with electric bikes in Badia Tedalda; a bike park and the maintenance of cycling trails for families and sports enthusiasts in Pieve Santo Stefano, as well as cycling and walking paths in both Pieve Santo Stefano and Badia Tedalda.
Youth, Environment & Sport
The third line of intervention covers support for the Montessori school section at the IC Voluseno in Badia Tedalda; residential summer camps for education and sport for girls and boys; multi-purpose sports facilities in Pieve Santo Stefano with an outdoor gym for adults and children.
Culture, Memory & Research
The second area encompasses the Archivio dei Diari (Diary Archive), the historical archive, Librifattiaamano and a new library in Pieve, in an integrated system combining conservation and research; study grants; the creation of the MOON arts and creativity centre; and the project Il Paese sul Paradiso (The Village on Paradise), linked to Montebotolino.
Tradition & Enterprise
The fourth and final strand is dedicated to the Tortello di Pieve (traditional stuffed pasta from Pieve Santo Stefano), with trademark registration and commercialisation of the local speciality; a communication and promotion plan for the various activities; and a mapping of properties available for remote workers.
Partnerships: a key factor in the project
The success of the Repubblica delle Foreste project is built on key partnerships. These unique collaborations, bringing together a wide range of expertise, are essential in shaping the future of Badia Tedalda and Pieve Santo Stefano. Each partner contributes in a distinctive way, creating a strong and cohesive network that guides the path towards sustainable development, placing at its heart the quality of life of both those who live in and those who visit the territory.
Laura Caruso CasermarcheologicaCasermArcheologica, an organisation that recovered an abandoned palazzo in Sansepolcro, reopening it to the city as a cultural centre open every day, has applied a working method that places culture at the heart of its approach — as a generative force for employment, collaboration, and the sharing of knowledge and skills. The project "La Repubblica delle Foreste, Guardians of the Alpe della Luna", which we have written and continue to oversee in collaboration with local administrators, all the associations of the territory, and the dedicated staff of the municipal offices, is a broad shared plan of cooperation for local development — one that enhances the precious realities already present and brings innovative elements, born from co-design and the sharing of common goals.
Claudio Marcelli Sindaco di Pieve Santo Stefano«A project of such great value places us before an incredible responsibility — that of taking what has been achieved and ensuring it can deliver results. I have witnessed a tremendous collaborative effort involving so many associations, which I hope will positively motivate our community in the years ahead, inspire other productive activities, and help people understand that the future of our territory lies in urban regeneration.»
- CasermArcheologica is an urban regeneration project that is restoring the former Carabinieri barracks in Sansepolcro, housed within Palazzo Muglioni, a historic building in the town centre.Laura Caruso Progettista Culturale
- The Pro Loco Tourist Association of Badia Tedalda aims to promote and enhance the territory of the municipality of Badia Tedalda.Fulvio Piegai Presidente
- The Pro Loco Pieve Santo Stefano Association aims to promote and enhance the territory of the municipality of Pieve Santo Stefano.Alessio Cipriani Presidente
- The Archivio Diaristico Nazionale (National Diary Archive) of Pieve Santo Stefano is a cultural institution founded in 1984 on the initiative of Saverio Tutino, and collects the memories of ordinary people in the form of personal writing. In conceiving the Archive, Tutino envisioned a place where these stories could coexist and "make History, with a capital H". The Archive is a documentation centre and cultural space that runs numerous projects, publishes books and a twice-yearly journal, and organises an annual diary competition, the Premio Pieve Saverio Tutino (Saverio Tutino Pieve Prize). In 2013 it inaugurated the Piccolo Museo del Diario (Little Museum of Diaries), housing digitised autobiographical texts held in the Archive.
Natalia Cangi Direttrice Organizzativa 
The ASD Team ERREPI association was founded in 1985 and today takes part with its members in mountain bike events at regional, national, European and world level. The association is also involved in trail maintenance, mountain bike coaching for children, and a variety of excursions and group rides.
Remo Pecorai Presidente- The Centro Studi Storici e Ricerche Archeologiche (Centre for Historical Studies and Archaeological Research) of Pieve Santo Stefano is a non-profit volunteer cultural association founded in 1989 with the twofold aim of safeguarding the historical and archaeological heritage of the upper Tiber valley, and in particular that of the municipality of Pieve Santo Stefano, and of deepening and disseminating knowledge of the history of its places and notable figures, as well as local traditions and customs.Fioralba Errera Presidentessa
- The Cooperativa Sociale "La Rondine" (La Rondine Social Cooperative) is based in Città di Castello and since 1988 has been engaged in educational, social, healthcare and welfare activities, as well as the organisation of leisure time, through services and facilities aimed at both vulnerable groups and young people, offering cultural and recreational services designed to promote health in all its aspects and to support prevention.
Luciano Veschi Presidente - The Librifattiamano (Handmade Books) Association has for fifteen years been carrying forward a project aimed primarily at children and young people, with the goal of promoting a culture of self-produced books to inspire a love of reading in the young. Over the years, Librifattiamano's cultural activities have grown considerably and today encompass a wide range of initiatives, from exhibitions to bookmaking workshops, to animated readings in schools, to the management of the children's and young adults' section of the municipal library.
Ombretta Pellegrini Presidentessa - The A.S.D Volley Revolution sports association was officially founded in October 2020 with the aim of being a sporting home for values such as friendship, integration, sharing, sacrifice, commitment, passion, competition, education and resilience. Its activities are aimed at young people and the needs of their families, working actively with both public and private bodies to bring to life projects that foster wellbeing and growth for the whole community.
Valerio Giunti Presidente - Arezzo Intour is a non-profit participatory foundation established with the aim of acting as a D.M.O. (Destination Management Organisation) capable of managing the Arezzo tourist destination in a comprehensive and fully integrated manner.
Simone Chierici Presidente - Arezzo is a city with an ancient history, one of the most important cities of Etruria and a strategic hub in Roman times, reaching its peak splendour between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.
Marcello Comanducci Presidente
If you would like to take part in our cultural or sporting initiatives, or contribute to the project with your own skills and expertise, please get in touch. We welcome new ideas and collaborations to make our territory even more vibrant and alive. Write to us and become an active part of the change!