Peer-to-peer exchange in Fiastra Valley

March 2026

In the Fiastra Valley region, the peer-to-peer exchange was designed as an immersive learning experience aimed at strengthening collaboration and knowledge sharing among project partners and rural stakeholders. By showcasing a range of successful initiatives implemented in Val di Fiastra, the exchange provided concrete examples of how local innovation, community engagement and strategic partnerships can address the complex challenges faced by rural areas.

At its core, the exchange sought to facilitate the transfer of knowledge and practical experience, enabling participants to gain insights into effective approaches that can be adapted to their own regional contexts. It also offered an opportunity to discover the unique identity of Val di Fiastra, its villages, traditions and the people who contribute to the vitality of the territory, highlighting how local characteristics can be leveraged for sustainable development.

Furthermore, the initiative aimed to inspire the replication or adaptation of these practices in other rural regions experiencing similar demographic and socio-economic challenges. Particular attention was given to understanding the governance models, partnerships and innovative processes that have been successfully activated in the area, as well as exploring strategies to engage a diverse range of rural actors, including municipalities, associations, professionals and civil society organisations.

Presented solutions

Anello Val di Fiastra

The Val di Fiastra Ring is a circular walking trail that connects six medieval villages across the Fiastra Valley, integrating existing paths, cultural heritage and natural landscapes. Developed through a community-driven initiative that began during the Borgofuturo+ Festival in 2020, the trail promotes sustainable tourism while showcasing the valley’s biodiversity, traditions and local identity. It serves as a model for leveraging the territorial assets nature, history and community engagement to foster rural development.

As part of the exchange, participants took part in a guided biodiversity walk along the trail. This interactive activity aimed to contribute to a local biodiversity monitoring effort while encouraging reflection on how biodiversity is perceived and valued. Drawing on the diverse disciplinary and cultural backgrounds of participants, the exercise created space for shared observation, discussion and learning, highlighting different perspectives on rural ecosystems and their importance.

Anello Val di Fiastra

Mobile Unit Errante

The solution presented during the peer-to-peer exchange combines Errante and the Vincanto Folk Group as complementary approaches to activating rural communities through culture and collaboration.

Errante is an innovative, mobile and community-driven infrastructure—a multifunctional “stage on wheels” that can serve as a performance space, classroom or meeting point. Co-designed and built through a participatory process involving students, local organisations and cultural actors, it functions as a flexible tool to connect people, support local initiatives and strengthen social and cultural networks across the territory.

Complementing this, the Vincanto Folk Group represents a long-standing example of cultural engagement, dedicated to preserving and promoting the musical heritage of the Marche region while fostering exchange with other traditions. Through performances and collaborations, the group contributes to maintaining local identity and enriching the cultural life of the region.

Together, they illustrate how mobile infrastructure and cultural expression can be combined to foster community participation, cultural preservation and rural vitality.

Mobile unit Errante

Local stakeholders involved in the peer-to-peer exchange

Peer learnings and insights

Tina Pawlakowitsch and Thomas BöhmSüdburgenland (Austria)

Tina Pawlakowitsch and Thomas Böhm

Südburgenland (Austria)

What is a key lesson or idea you learned from the activities and solutions presented?

One key lesson we learned was how effectively nature experiences can be combined with digital tools to enhance environmental awareness. During the walk through the Anello trail in Val di Fiastra, we gained many interesting insights into the local biodiversity and how these can be communicated in an engaging way. We especially appreciated the idea of using the mobile app iNaturalist to document species and involve participants more actively in the exploration of nature.

The possibility of creating a dedicated project within the app is particularly inspiring for us. We see strong potential to apply this approach in our upcoming large biodiversity project within the Interreg programme, where citizen participation and awareness-raising are key elements.

What impressed or inspired you most during the visit? Is there anything you would like to bring back to your community?

What impressed us most was the creative and practical approach to cultural activities presented during the visit. In particular, the project with the mobile stage stood out to us. The concept of a multifunctional stage that is easy to assemble and dismantle and that can operate independently from external energy sources, is very innovative.

This solution makes it possible to organise cultural events even in remote areas and smaller rural communities. We see great potential in this idea, especially for supporting small cultural initiatives in rural regions. It is definitely a concept we would like to further explore and possibly adapt for activities in our own community.

Massimiliano D'InnocenzoAbruzzo (Italy)

Massimiliano D'Innocenzo

Abruzzo (Italy)

What is a key lesson or idea you learned from the activities and solutions presented?

It has been a great occasion to meet the partners from Borgofuturo and understand better about their work, both in RURACTIVE and in general.

What impressed or inspired you most during the visit? Is there anything you would like to bring back to your community?

I have shared with my community the idea of "Errante" and all the input from the visit, especially about the little walk in the nature.

Dimitra PapaioannidouZagori (Greece)

Dimitra Papaioannidou

Zagori (Greece)

What is a key lesson or idea you learned from the activities and solutions presented?

In Val di Fiastra the monitoring walk using iNaturalist showed how simple digital tools can engage communities in understanding and documenting biodiversity. As we have also implemented similar activities in the past as Ecomuseum Zagori, such as BioBlitz events using tools like the iNaturalist and the EcholociApp, it was particularly interesting to exchange ideas and see how similar approaches are applied in another country and context.

What impressed or inspired you most during the visit? Is there anything you would like to bring back to your community?

The story behind the creation of the Errante mobile unit and the atmosphere during the concert was really inspiring and could be a potential replicable model even in our Dynamo. It was inspiring to see how such initiatives create spaces for participation, something that could also be valuable for engaging communities in Zagori.

Natalya VoloshynZakarpattya, Ukraine

Natalya Voloshyn

Zakarpattya, Ukraine

What is a key lesson or idea you learned from the activities and solutions presented?

Focusing on local needs and working with local people
Finding beauty and promoting it
Collaboration

What impressed or inspired you most during the visit? Is there anything you would like to bring back to your community?

The app iNaturalist was a revelation for me. I did not expect it will be so catching. A natural walk is always a good idea. This I will definitely use.

Daniel MuirNorth-East Scotland (UK)

Daniel Muir

North-East Scotland (UK)

What is a key lesson or idea you learned from the activities and solutions presented?

Introducing the use of the iNaturalist app was a great way to increase interest in the species of fauna and flora in the area and bring focus to the activity. The guide was very good as well, knowledgeable, personable and interesting. A nice marriage of technology and nature.

I really enjoyed the concert, and being able to see the Errante unit in actual use, in an amazing setting, with a unique local band was a great showcase for how it could be (and is being) used. The Vincanto folk group were very engaging and a lot of fun!

What impressed or inspired you most during the visit? Is there anything you would like to bring back to your community?

The energy of the Borgofuturo group, and how they have started from one event, the festival, and built out from that, engaging and bringing together groups from across the valley together, was inspirational. It would be great to be able to inspire our local communities here to broaden their horizons and connect more with one another.

Therese WilhelmssonGotland (Sweden)

Therese Wilhelmsson

Gotland (Sweden)

What is a key lesson or idea you learned from the activities and solutions presented?

By providing knowledge that can be shared on-site, later, or saved for the future, the app fosters inclusion, a sense of community and learning. A very enjoyable activity for everyone.

What impressed or inspired you most during the visit? Is there anything you would like to bring back to your community?

The simplicity and innovative approach – yes, I will definitely use this app at home from time to time and recommend it to others.

José Angel CasasZamora (Spain)

José Angel Casas

Zamora (Spain)

What is a key lesson or idea you learned from the activities and solutions presented?

A key lesson from Val di Fiastra is that rural regeneration can grow from simple, community-based actions that connect nature, culture and local identity.

The Anello Val di Fiastra showed how a walking route can promote responsible tourism, biodiversity awareness and connection between villages. The use of iNaturalist also highlighted how citizens can actively contribute to environmental monitoring.

The Unità Mobile Errante was inspiring because it showed how culture can reach small rural communities through flexible and creative formats.

What impressed or inspired you most during the visit? Is there anything you would like to bring back to your community?

What impressed me most was how Val di Fiastra combines nature, culture and community participation in a simple but effective way.

I was especially inspired by the Anello Val di Fiastra and the Unità Mobile Errante, as both show how rural areas can become more connected, active and attractive through walking routes, local heritage, biodiversity and mobile cultural activities.

I would like to bring this integrated approach back to my community.