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This 1.3
cubic meter valley will soon be filled with gravel to make a quarry
 The
plans for the quarry have not stopped Richard and Peter's plans for renovation
of this vacation cottage |
Below the hill Casa Vacanza
sits upon is a low, green valley. According to Richard, on June 10th 2002,
the town of Cagli passed a policy that will allow a quarry to be built next
to their home. This quarry, which will fill a 1.3-million-cubic-meter area
with gravel, is "incompatible with tourist activity," Richard says. "The
problem with a quarry is that it extends, and it is quite possible that
more quarries will be built after this one." There is a possibility of a
hay-drying factory being built in Smirra, a town between Cagli and Acqualagna
and similar to both of them. These new proposals are a plus for the town's
economy and they show signs of growth. However, it is possible the views
from Casa Vacanza and other agriturismo places will not be as picture-perfect
as they are today.Towns do not decide to become tourist spots and they must
exist on their own, regardless of industrial or tourism factors. The arrival
of new traditions such as
Venerdi di Cagli draws visitors from the surrounding areas and shows
that tourism is important to this area. Cagli has become wealthy, and years
ago, the idea of celebrating different kinds of bread would be seen as absurd.
As the city becomes more sophisticated in taste and other areas, it needs
to show more concern for the environment. |
 As
he flips through the guidebook to the Marche region him and Peter have produced,
Richard explains the importance of maintaining the environment in and around
Cagli |
"If this area really believes in tourism, isn't it better to pursue activities that really believe
in tourism instead of short-term projects that will be disastrous?" Richard asks.
Although the changes taking place within Cagli may someday harm their business, the pair
remains optimistic. Half of a porcelain toilet rests against an unpainted wall next to tin cans
filled with rich, white paint. The objects are in a room that once was a church dating back to
1100, and Richard and Peter are renovating this room to create a new apartment on their property.
Richard explains that the plans for the quarry are not hindering their plans for renovation.
As long as the sky remains clear and the green valleys remain a part of the wondrous view from
this hilltop, Richard, Peter and the rest of the Cagliese people welcome visitors into their
ever-changing city.
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| Text, Page Design & Layout by
Diana Richardson, Photographs by Marissa Norkus and Deirdre Mullins |
The Loyola College Cagli Project Main Page |