The event is interesting for many reasons. First of all ?Come to the Provinces? hosts many Italian and international operators, tourism experts and prospective buyers of travel packages, as it is meant to contribute to a discussion about new means of upgrading and promotion of Italy's huge heritage: local peculiarities and differences are a powerful appeal for tourists, and focusing on these features tourism can be stimulated, and reservations for Rome and for other Italian cities can increase. Secondly, the fair is not only meant for tour operators, but also for individual citizens who, spending some days in a budget bed and breakfast in Rome, will have the possibility to visit the fair and to take part in a real folkloristic feast characterised by a rich programme featuring many events fit for all tastes and ages.

Visitors will have the possibility to visit the stands of various provinces to taste local products, gather promotional material or discover artefacts and typical works, in order to learn something more about different Italian areas and cultures, and between a visit to a stand and the other they will take part in cultural, artistic, sport events or in a game. Sport lovers will have the opportunity to participate in a 7 km marathon (the ?4th marathon of Italian Provinces?), or to have fun in the Sport Area featuring basket and football fields, a free climbing wall and a path for bike-cross, while those who have a passion for art and photography might want to visit the exhibition ?104 Provinces?, which will include 104 pictures which will help them to discover the peculiarities of Italian provinces. Various dance, music and theatre shows, as well as other cultural events, will take place throughout the fair, and they will highlight the different folkloristic traditions, transforming the fair into a real open-air festival, which will be appreciated also by children: the fair will host, indeed, some spaces especially meant for younger visitors, like a playing area and the first festival in honour of Gianni Rodari, which will focus on works about peace, solidarity and nature written by the great children's writer.

Tickets: free event

Date: 30th April ? 3 May 2009

Location: Galoppatoio di Villa Borghese, Rome, Italy