He is 42 years old, has always lived in Montone and lives to bring development to the city. Meet Mirco Rinaldi – Mayor of Montone, who has a dream to create a city that constantly evolves without compromising with the past.

Being a mayor of a municipality with more than 1700 inhabitants spread over an area of ​​the size of the Danish island of Fanø undoubtedly has its challenges. Not least, when the history of the city dates back to the year 1000. Even though – or perhaps because of that the small village on the top of one of the countless hills of Umbria is unique and beautiful as few, and hens it requires an enormous degree of planning and will to ensure that development does not just pass by and leaves the city as just a tourist attraction.

And that is one of Mirco Ritalia’s great visions for the city of which he became the mayor of in 2014. Because Mirco Rinaldi wants to make Montone far more than just a beautiful city with ancient streets and well-maintained medieval houses.

 Not an easy balance

Outside the old city walls, Montone must be a modern city. We must be able to attract businesses and create jobs. We must be able to be something for the children and the young people. We must be able to help the eldest citizens. At the same time, we must take care of the cultural heritage. We must ensure that attractions are preserved and that we maintain the old traditions. It’s not an easy balance. But it can be done, and that’s the goal, says Mirco Rinaldi, who lives near the central piazza of the city.

Buying a property in here is expensive. But for me and my wife it was a choice; we want to live in here. In old Montone. But I also know that it’s a choice not everyone has. The houses have become expensive – partly because more foreigners buy housing here, and of course, that makes prices go up to a level where ordinary Italian families can not always follow. But as mayor it is my responsibility to make sure that new houses then are built outside the walls. Houses that young Italian families can afford to buy. Because we all want the city to have citizens of all ages. This requires that we, from a political side, make it possible, and we are working hard for it, he explains.

 Must be alive

In order to ensure that young families stay in Montone, Mirco Rinaldi and his colleagues from the city council therefore not only assure new building sites. They have also renovated the city’s school and sports hall. They have opened up for new industries – for companies with jobs, and they have restored one of the municipal churches. At the same time, new cycling routes have been made, the city’s historic center has been renovated – and new roads have been built. And the list of upcoming projects is at least as long, says the mayor.

“Of course we are happy the visits of tourists in late spring, in summer and in the autumn. Because tourists bring business to the area. But it is equally important that Montone is more than just a beautiful picture on a postcard. The municipality must be alive and virile. We can not just be passive. We must be active and proactive. We have to bring development to the city, he says, pointing out that, although Montone is self-determining, the municipality is also dependent on other municipalities in the area.

“We cooperate a lot. Both to attract companies and new projects and to raise money from foundations and scholarships. I think we have come a long way and we will go even further. It just takes a little more hard work, he says.