The Next Step, Together: Reflections from Our Gathering at La Vittoria

On Friday evening, December 5, our community came together at La Vittoria for an open and inspiring conversation about the future of Guardia Sanframondi’s historic center. The room was filled with Guardiesi, new residents, and friends from abroad — all united by a shared belief in the potential of our centro storico.

This meeting grew out of the encouraging feedback we’ve received over the past months, both publicly and privately, about the direction Guardia Viva has been taking. With the census of Via Filippo Maria Guidi nearing completion, the €1 home program taking shape, and the launch of the online group “Historic Homes for Sale in Guardia Sanframondi, Italy,” it felt like the right moment to pause, reflect, and begin thinking beyond the first steps.

A Conversation About the Next Five Years

Rather than focusing on individual projects, this first gathering was intentionally designed to listen. Participants were invited to share their dreams, concerns, and ideas for what the historic center could become over the next five years — culturally, socially, and economically.

Several themes emerged during the discussion:

• A strong desire to see the centro storico become more lived-in, welcoming, and active year-round

• Enthusiasm around recent interest from new buyers and investors, and the hope that this momentum can continue

• The importance of balancing preservation with revitalization

• A shared understanding that meaningful change will require collaboration, patience, and clear planning

It was especially encouraging to hear how many people see recent home purchases and investments not as isolated events, but as the beginning of a positive long-term trend for Guardia.

What Comes Next

This meeting marked the first in a small series of gatherings. The goal of this initial evening was simply to collect ideas and perspectives. Future meetings will focus on organizing these ideas, identifying priorities, and shaping them into a shared, realistic plan for the years ahead.

We are deeply grateful to everyone who attended, spoke, listened, and offered their support. Your participation confirms what we already believed: that the future of Guardia Sanframondi’s historic center is not something to be decided by a few, but something to be built together.

If you were unable to attend but would like to be involved in upcoming meetings or initiatives, we invite you to reach out. This conversation is just beginning, and there is room for many voices at the table.

Together, we are taking the next step.