The meeting of the regional coordination committee of the association – I Borghi più Belli d’Italia – The Most Beautiful Villages in Italy – was held in the Council Chamber in Asolo. It was convened to proceed with the replacement of the regional coordinator—a position previously held by the former mayor of Follina, Mario Collet—and to appoint the representative of Veneto in the association’s national council. The meeting was attended by representatives of the Veneto villages belonging to the network, including Asolo, who also discussed the prospects for the development and enhancement of historic centers of excellence in the context of new trends in international tourism. During the meeting, the following were unanimously elected: Andrea Chiereghini (Councilor for Tourism of Sant’Ambrogio di Valpolicella) as Regional Coordinator of the association and Alessandro Gardoni (Mayor of Valeggio sul Mincio) as Representative of Veneto in the National Council.
Hosting the Regional Coordination of the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy in Asolo was a source of great satisfaction because it confirms the role that villages play today in the contemporary tourism landscape, – commented the Municipal Councilor for Tourism, Beatrice Bonsembiante. More and more travelers are looking for authentic experiences that connect them with local communities, nature, and traditions. Villages represent exactly this: places where time and relationships maintain a more human dimension and where cultural heritage becomes a lived experience.
The theme of promoting villages is also part of the broader international debate on sustainable, high-quality tourism. In recent years, the choice of destinations has no longer been guided solely by “what to do,” but by the search for atmospheres and local identities that can offer an immersive and authentic experience.
In this context, Veneto can count on important international recognition: Asolo and Arquà Petrarca joined the UN network of Best Tourism Villages in 2025, while Montagnana was included in the Upgrade program linked to the initiative in the same year. Asolo and Follina are also part of the international Cittaslow circuit, which promotes a lifestyle and hospitality linked to the quality of the territory and sustainability. The Ministry of Tourism is also paying close attention to villages. At the International Forum last January, it devoted considerable space to the theme of ‘undertourism’, i.e. the promotion of alternative destinations to those most congested by mass tourism, capable of offering a more balanced relationship between visitors, culture, and the environment.
