Local Actions to Tackle Physical, Relational and Socio-cultural Isolation of an Internal Area in the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria in Italy

This contribution is part of the reflections for defining the Strategic Plan of the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria. The Metropolitan City has a dual character: it includes both urban areas and, almost in contradiction, quite extensive marginal areas. These are internal areas, according to the definition of the National Strategy for Internal Areas, SNAI. The homogeneous Grecanic area is located in this second group. For its characteristics of physical, social and cultural isolation, the Grecanic area, in fact, can certainly be placed among the marginal areas, as defined by the European Union: as areas rich in natural and cultural resources, with infrastructural problems and located far from the centers offering essential services, which are affected by socio-demographic and economic problems. The local awareness of the local peculiar conditions and the evidence recognized also at national level have pushed local and national actors to invest for its change. The contribution, therefore, highlights some intervention policies, which aim at progressively improving the habitability of this part of the Metropolitan City. It also critically reflects on how these policies can affect the wellbeing conditions of the inhabitants and, lastly, it hints at how the Strategic Plan could offer a contribution in this direction.