As President of Fondazione Alghero, what do you consider the primary responsibility of a cultural and tourism institution wholly owned by the City Council in a destination with a historical identity as distinctive as Alghero’s?

I believe we must first and foremost remember that we work with public resources and therefore have a responsibility to give something back to the city. Simply organising events is not enough: we need a clear vision of the direction we want Alghero to take.

For me, this means safeguarding an identity unlike any other in the Mediterranean: that of a Catalan city in Sardinia, without reducing it to a mere expression of folklore. It also means working to ensure that tourism generates employment throughout the year, rather than only in summer.

This is why we are gradually steering the Foundation towards a Destination Management Organisation (DMO) model: an organisation capable of coordinating the city’s various stakeholders and sectors and bringing them together to work towards shared goals.

Events are a powerful means of raising a destination’s profile. What criteria does Fondazione Alghero use to select, develop and support cultural initiatives that engage the local community and attract visitors?

Our Catalan identity is one of our most distinctive features. Here, Catalan can still be heard in the streets, its heritage is reflected in the city walls, and its traditions come alive in our celebrations. This is a history spanning more than six centuries.

What we are trying to do is weave that history back into the city’s everyday life. The Sant Miquel Festival, with its castellers, or human towers, and gegants, the traditional giant figures, was born out of precisely this ambition. The same applies to our idea of gradually transforming Halloween into the Nit de les Ànimes, the Catalan version of this celebration.

We like to say that our Halloween speaks Catalan.

We also want to gradually revive the tradition of the Àliga, the eagle that represented Alghero during the era of the Crown of Aragon. We would like to bring it back to our squares and celebrations, allowing the people of Alghero to see themselves reflected in their own history, while giving visitors the opportunity to discover and experience it firsthand.

Tourism promotion today requires destinations to stand out in a highly competitive market. Which values, experiences and emotions do you believe should be at the heart of Alghero’s communications to establish a distinctive image in Italy and internationally?

We want Alghero to be seen as a vibrant city that does not shut down in October.

The message “Alghero All Year Round” stems directly from this vision and is the concept behind our autumn and winter campaign, including in international markets.

As a symbol, I think of red coral, which connects the sea, craftsmanship and our history.

Above all, I would like those who choose Alghero to feel at home: hearing Catalan spoken in the streets, dining on the city ramparts at sunset, or finding themselves in the midst of a celebration alongside local residents.

How does the Foundation work with tourism businesses, restaurateurs, cultural organisations, associations and residents to ensure that destination promotion truly reflects Alghero’s identity and spreads its benefits throughout the area?

If the people who welcome tourists every day do not believe in the project, promotion cannot succeed.

We work with the local town-centre business network, cultural and sports associations, tourism operators, the airport and ferry companies.

We have also created the Alghero Family brand for businesses committed to catering to families’ needs. In this way, promotion translates into a tangible service.

This winter, a covered structure at the Ivan Graziani Amphitheatre will be made available to local associations during the week.

We are also investing beyond the historic centre, for example in Fertilia, through Carnival, the Feast of Saint Mark and one of the events on the Alghero Wine Week programme.

How does the Foundation listen to local residents’ expectations, particularly when organising events, developing new tourism initiatives or protecting places and traditions that are part of everyday life in Alghero?

Listening also means acknowledging when something does not work.

If an event causes traffic or parking problems, we should acknowledge them and work to improve things the following year.

We maintain an ongoing dialogue with neighbourhood committees, associations, local businesses and city councillors.

When it comes to traditions, the rule is simple: before proposing anything, we speak to the people who keep those traditions alive.

We also want to involve young people. For example, we are exploring an initiative with the art school and the Faculty of Architecture. The idea is for each group to “adopt” a street and decorate it with art installations, giving particular recognition to those who use recycled materials.

At a time when travellers are seeking authenticity, which experiences would you recommend to first-time visitors to help them understand Alghero’s history, its relationship with the sea, its Catalan identity and its hospitality?

I would recommend starting with a walk along the city ramparts at sunset to gain an immediate sense of Alghero’s relationship with the sea.

Then, wander through the historic centre, listen to the Catalan spoken in Alghero and step inside a coral workshop.

Visit Neptune’s Grotto, perhaps arriving by sea, and the Anghelu Ruju necropolis, which reminds us that this area’s history began long before the arrival of the Catalans.

And, of course, sit down to a meal and discover the local fish and wines.

If possible, I recommend visiting Alghero during one of its celebrations. Watching the castellers build their human towers in Alghero’s squares offers an understanding of the city that no guidebook could ever convey.

Looking ahead, what vision would you like to realise for Alghero, and what role should Fondazione Alghero play in ensuring that the city develops with balance, creativity and an international outlook?

I dream of an Alghero that thrives all year round.

A city where people working in tourism do not have to earn their entire annual income in just three months, where young people find opportunities to stay, and where visitors can return in any season.

A city proud of its Catalan identity and able to share it with the world.

The Foundation must help bring this vision to life by building a skilled in-house team, planning several years ahead, securing funding and private-sector partners, and working together with the whole city.

I want Alghero to grow, first and foremost for the people who live here, and then for those who come to visit.