Ad hoc shopping areas

Territory and Services

Ad hoc shopping areas

The suburbs offer the territory a wealth of riches and play a vital role in the design of an integrated metropolitan area. This is why the Province of Rome has decided to support these neighbourhoods by exploiting ad hoc shopping areas (known in Italian as "Centri commerciali naturali" or natural shopping centres). The aim is to take advantage of the economic potential of the suburbs, upgrade them and return shopping streets back to their pivotal place in the community, something which has often been lost. This is being done by activating discussions with the local authorities and the relevant industry associations to maximise the resources allocated for this project. It is a very important programme with the objective of creating a network of ad hoc shopping areas in the Province, which should a unique identity over time.

The initiative, promoted by the 12th District and more specifically the Servizio 2 "Sviluppo Locale" (overseeing local development), supports ad hoc shopping areas and open air markets that spontaneously spring up in the large districts of Rome and in the old town centres located in municipalities throughout the province.

To achieve this aim, an agreement (Protocollo d'intesa) was signed on December 10, 2008 between the Province of Rome and relevant industry associations to promote these “Centri commerciali naturali".

The document set out the rules for a common action plan followed by the Province of Rome and the industry organisations in the light of the Regional Call for Tender, issued on September 1, 2008, regarding the contribution to be given to start up these Centri Commerciali Naturali.

In the area coming under the Province of Rome no fewer than 39 municipalities have been given grants from the Lazio Regional authority.