The reopening could start from Chianti - The letter from the mayor of Gaiole

During the current epidemic, the Sienese Chianti has seen a very low spread of the virus, the municipality of Gaiole in Chianti can even boast zero infections. For this reason, the mayor of Gaiole has written a letter to the Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte to take into consideration the hypothesis to start phase 2 of the containment measures right from this place.

The natural low population density of these areas (only 2700 inhabitants in 129 sq km) favors social distancing. "The future will inevitably be different and will force us to live with Covid 19 for a time still unknown, it will change our habits", for this reason it is necessary to experiment the reopening and the municipality of Gaiole could be the ideal place. Its zero contagions will hardly depend only on luck; they are probably the result of the natural conformation of the place and the ancient values ​​of its inhabitants.

The wineries, local businesses and artisans who have always created the highest quality products are ready to start again in maximum safety and represent an example for other areas of Italy. Here is the text of the mayor's letter, also signed by associations and prominent people of the place.

Dear Giuseppe

we are afraid and I too am afraid. For days I have sought the courage to write these few lines to you; I do it now, driven by the same sense of duty that we have in our deepest roots, from the furthest away, from the memory of Baron Bettino Ricasoli, former mayor of Gaiole, second president of the Council of the Kingdom of Italy after Cavour and "winemaker" of Chianti, who from his castle in Brolio began to draw an idea of a united Italy. Today we need the strength to make a new one.

"Let's be honest!" was Ricasoli's motto and we ask precisely, starting from his sentiment: give us the chance, GIVE US THE CHANCE. Maybe it's not the third world war but rebuilding our country will be just as difficult and painful, and we cannot waste time. For this reason, as mayor of Gaiole in Chianti, a small proudly Italian community, together with other members of our community who can testify to that same reality, I make this ambitious proposal: USE US!!! If Lombardy is forced to close today, WE PUT FORWARD OUR CANDIDACY TO OPEN, to be an experiment, the vanguard of a new Italy.

We ask you to consider the idea that Gaiole in Chianti, WITH ZERO CONTAGIONS, becomes a Government PILOT PROJECT. We are candidates for a manned and ready territory of 2700 inhabitants spread over 129 sq. Km. In Gaiole it is possible, and not risky, to immediately restart the mobility of our residents, to reopen the wineries and local businesses, construction sites. We can do it and be an example, a model that expands throughout Italy. We reopen, we can identify safe methods, but we should reopen immediately! Thus at least the dozens of artisan companies that guarantee quality work can restart. Gaiole in Chianti has always been welcoming, from the new “Chiantigiani", visitors from other countries and especially Europeans who have restored farmhouses to live here. Our municipality is made up of about 25% of foreign resident citizens, non-EU workers in agriculture, construction, home maintenance without ever having problems.

Our “Eroica”, established 23 years ago, which has become a world level classic cycling event capable of bringing together 8 thousand cycling enthusiasts from every continent, has now become a way of safeguarding a wonderful territory and a concept of sport, our rural roads are an environmental heritage of Tuscany.

USE US because the future will inevitably be different and will force us to live with COVID-19 for an unknown period of time, it will change our habits, it will perhaps make us go backwards in some things by rediscovering lost values. Lost in the main but not to everyone. I write to you about a territory that invested in those values, believing in them, when it wasn't fashionable to do so, and that today has achieved excellent results. Our 29 towns and villages testify to a social distancing that comes from the mists of time, distant but supportive in which over 20 voluntary associations active in every sector coexist, from social activities to sport.

Perhaps, also for these reasons, in 2008 Forbes recognized Gaiole in Chianti with the title of most livable place in Europe and in 2016 Cultura Italiae wanted to appoint the municipality of Gaiole in Chianti as the first Italian Cultural Presidium, entrusting me with the role of National Coordinator.

We didn't get infected. Luck or the result of what we are?

We need to give a perspective to this precious land as soon as possible. We need it like all of Italy needs it. If I were the governor of the Region of Tuscany I would nominate the whole of Tuscany which, for a large part of its territory, shares with us much of what we are explaining to you.

Wellness, Goodness and Beauty ... Goodness of its citizens. It is in the name of our Wellness, which we would never give up, that we sincerely ask you to accept our request. We believe that our country needs virtuous examples, a small part of Italy that has preserved human values and relationships, which has always rolled up its sleeves.

From here, from these hills, from these woods that have not known fire for decades, Gaiole in Chianti is ready. I think we could start immediately, be FIRST, maybe together with the other small municipalities with zero or very low contagion, thus providing an experiment that could be useful for the whole country.

We are ready to do our part and we hope that we are allowed to do it.