There are almost six thousand towns and villages in Italy with fewer than 5,000 inhabitants and the newly installed government is planning to revive a law originally proposed in 2003 but never passed, designed both to promote and support economic, social, cultural and environmental activities in these small centres and to encourage the maintenance of their heritage.

Sunday 21 May will be dedicated to these small centres in an initiative supported by the new president of Italy and organised by Piccola Grande Italia, the environmental league, Enel, the leading national electricity supplier, and by numerous associations interested in promoting this important part of Italys heritage.

The principal village for this years celebrations is Castel del Monte in the province of LAquila in the Abruzzo region, but villages and small towns all over the country are arranging a wide variety of activities to display their gastronomic, cultural and agricultural heritage. For full details see www.piccolagrandeitalia.it