Abruzzo's Neglected Treasure? A Tale & List of PSNAI Excluded Municipalities

Pacentro

In July 2023, the Abruzzo Regional Council quietly approved a set of new rules and report that would reshape which towns qualify for vital EU funding. On paper, it was part of a national, well-intentioned plan, the PSNAI – National Strategic Plan for Internal Areas – a strategy to help rebalance rural areas nationally and in Abruzzo to support local development through the 2021–2027 European Regional Development and Social Funds.

But in practice, these changes have raised big questions, especially for those living in smaller, rural villages now excluded from support.

Under what’s known as Priority 5 of the regional programme, funding is now focused on areas classified as Urban Functional Areas, a label borrowed from EU guidelines that aims to prioritise towns and cities with interconnected services and development potential.

To qualify, a town or village had to meet a series of strict conditions, including:

A certain population size
A functioning local economy
Access to essential services like health care, education, and public transport
A thriving cultural and social life
Environmental infrastructure

The Abruzzo Region mirrored these EU criteria almost exactly when identifying which areas would be eligible for funding. In short, if a place couldn’t demonstrate it ticked all these boxes, it was left out.

This technocratic approach may look tidy on spreadsheets, but on the ground, it feels like abandonment. It means that many small but historically and culturally rich villages — already facing depopulation — are now excluded from the very support meant to help them survive.

Local planners and community leaders argue that the criteria are stacked against smaller towns. If you don’t already have services or economic infrastructure, how can you prove your potential? How do you qualify for help when the system favours those who already have more?

The concern isn’t just about money. It’s about visibility. It’s about voice. And it’s about whether rural life in Abruzzo is still considered part of the region’s future, or quietly being written off.

Among those speaking out is Alfonso Scarano, a long-standing regional planner, who has warned that this strategy marks a dangerous shift:

“This is not just a funding decision — it’s the dismantling of the Republic in its promise to support all territories equally.”

The slow dismantling of the Republic has been unfolding for years, devaluing and deprioritising the South. If you look at welfare, Southern Italy, which includes Abruzzo, receives just 10% of the country’s total social service spending, despite being home to 23% of the population. A shortfall here meant that in 2022, Abruzzo allocated only 8.6% of its municipal budget to welfare, falling short of the national average of 13.5%.

The exclusion raises critical questions about transparency and criteria. Critics argue that exclusion often has less to do with real resilience and more to do with data models that fail to account for local realities. Some villages were deemed too large, too economically stable, or insufficiently “remote” even if their population is ageing, their schools are closing, and job opportunities have vanished.

A Model That Rewards Paperwork, Not People

A piercing editorial on Comune-info summed up the policy’s philosophical contradiction:

“Communities are encouraged not to imagine new futures, but to ‘compete for project funding.’ Creativity becomes paperwork. Imagination is replaced by metrics. Those who don’t play the game, disappear.”

The assumption that villages must compete for funding—despite lacking consultants, digital infrastructure, or even the time to apply—sets many up to fail. Some don’t even have a full-time mayor, let alone one trained in navigating Italy’s bureaucratic maze. I recall a small-town mayor, an electrician by trade, attempting to negotiate with the Uffizi Gallery to host an exhibition and raise funds for earthquake relief. Even the most famous small municipality didn’t have the skills to adequately do this. Instead of being supported for their potential, many communities are penalised for not having the experience or skills to fit into the narrow, grant-driven system that rewards fluency in paperwork over vision.

Who’s Left Out?

L’Aquila Province – 12 Municipalities

Pescara Province – 18 Municipalities

Chieti Province – 15 Municipalities

Teramo Province – 1 Municipality

Cellino Attanasio

By being excluded from the PSNIA (National Strategy for Inner Areas), it means it cannot apply for or receive national or EU funding and support that is specifically earmarked for fragile, rural, or depopulating areas. This is supposed to reverse the decline in rural Italy and covers:

Public services (like healthcare, education, and public transport)
Local development projects
Tourism infrastructure
Job creation schemes
Environmental protection
Digital and transport connectivity
Community revitalisation (e.g., co-working spaces, youth centres)

What Are the Alternatives?

When PSNAI is no longer a golden ticket to long-term security and sustainability, overlooked towns and villages have 4 main options

EU Rural Development Programs – Some towns are seeking direct access to funds via LEADER and LIFE environmental programs.
Private-public partnerships – Communities are partnering with foundations and diaspora groups to fund small-scale regeneration.
Heritage and Eco-tourism – Investing in “slow tourism,” wildlife corridors, and culture-based experiences that attract international attention.
Digital Nomadism & Smart Working – Some towns are offering fibre internet and remote work hubs to attract new residents.

Hope Through Community, Not Abandonment

Not all excluded towns are collapsing. Pettorano sul Gizio has become a model as a “Bear Smart Community,” preserving its nature, working with researchers, and attracting eco-tourists. Loreto Aprutino, part of Abruzzo’s so-called “Golden Triangle,” continues to produce some of the finest olive oil and Montepulciano d’Abruzzo wines. Its cultural and agricultural clout offers a buffer, but local advocates say that doesn’t mean funding shouldn’t flow.

Pettorano sul Gizio

The underlying question is stark: why do policies favour the cheapest, fastest path, even if it accelerates decline and is the most wasteful in the long run? Why not treat traditional knowledge, community innovation, and shared infrastructure as the people’s gold, worthy of investment and give help with project management to secure funding?

Buying a Home In Abruzzo

If you’re considering buying a home in one of Abruzzo’s hilltop villages or rural hamlets, it’s essential to know whether the town is included in Italy’s PSNIA programme, and just as importantly, what alternative strategies it may be using to secure its long-term future.

This can affect everything from your daily quality of life to the pace of local development and the potential value of your home over time. Exclusion from PSNIA doesn’t mean a village is in decline; many excluded towns still offer rich culture, natural beauty, and vibrant community life, but progress may be slower unless other public or grassroots projects are filling the gap.

Some of these towns require a bit more patience and a spirit of self-sufficiency. But for those looking to be part of a community in transition — or to actively shape its next chapter, understanding where your chosen town stands is a powerful place to begin.

Home Buyer’s Tip: Do a Little Research

Before buying in Abruzzo, ask:

Is the town part of PSNIA or another regeneration programme?
What’s the population trend — growing or declining?
Are services like health, transport, or schools within reach?
Are there active community organisations or festivals?
Has the town attracted tourism or young families recently?

View the National Report

Author: Sam Dunham

Sam is a very lucky midlife Mum to A who is 13 and juggles working as a freelance SEO copywriter with teaching IGCSEs at Istituto Cristo Re in Rome. She is the founder of the Life In Abruzzo Cultural Association, co-founder of Let's Blog Abruzzo and the 'English in the Woods' initiative.

Abruzzo’s Neglected Treasure? A Tale & List of PSNAI Excluded Municipalities