In particular, the Park’s strategy is aimed at extending and enhancing the integration with surrounding territories and the local community. The new projects linked to “Greater Pompeii” cover a wide range of themes which are perfectly consistent with Pompeian history on the one hand and the expectations of the demand for culture on the other: the active involvement of younger generations, the protection of the natural and agricultural landscape that forms part of the UNESCO site, the relationship with the surrounding territory marked by permeability, cooperation and entrepreneurship, environmental and energetic sustainability of processes and actions, and the diversification of services provided by the site.

The “Sogno di Volare” project is aimed at pupils from local schools and involves the establishment of a series of workshops linked to the preparation and performance of a work of ancient drama within the context of the Archaeological Park of Pompeii. During the period from March to May, pupils will rework the plays of Aristophanes in the light of modern life with the aim of staging a play in the splendid setting of Teatro Grande, becoming an integral part of the cultural initiatives of the site.

The project “Horti Plinii – l’orto di Plinio” (Pliny’s Gardens)- together with the programme “I ragazzi di Plinio” (Pliny’s kids) – forms part of the Park’s strategy aimed at raising awareness of the ethical and sustainable use of the territory, but also at creating ethically sustainable tools for launching business initiatives. Not only does the participatory and, in many senses playful, nature of the Orti Didattici (Educational Gardens) encourage the active involvement of the local community, but it also provides a new opportunity to overcome the perception of feeling alienated from cultural heritage.

“I ragazzi di Plinio” is a social agricultural project aimed at people with autism and/or cognitive impairment and responds to the twofold goal of social and workplace inclusion and treatment through the cultural heritage and beauty of the Archaeological Park of Pompeii. The young people are involved in looking after green spaces, the harvesting and transformation of agricultural produce and the tasting of the products; the latter activities, which are of an experimental nature, can be structured organically so that they form part of the reception services for visitors provided by the Park and eventually become an economically viable activity.

“Parvula domus” is the name of the social and cultural farm of the Archaeological Park of Pompeii which encapsulates the concept of a small, welcoming house of a large community. It is a state-owned building situated within the site in the eastern area of the ancient Pompeii outside the city walls.

Various young people and children with autism and/or cognitive impairment are involved in productive activities, harvesting and transforming farm produce in the large green spaces of the Park’s archaeological sites. The project is also aimed at encouraging personal wellbeing, encounters, socialisation and sharing, facilitated by the contact with the beauty of these places, and at teaching a craft and creating practical paths for workplace inclusion in the agricultural supply chain.