Riace is a small Italian town located on the Calabrian coast along the Ionian Sea. Historically, its fame is linked to the discovery of two magnificent Greek bronze statues from the 5th century BCE, found on the seabed off its coast in 1972. In more recent times, however, Riace has become synonymous with a virtuous example of hospitality and the revitalization of a small Italian town at risk of depopulation.

The 1990s mark the beginning of massive migratory flows toward Western Europe, particularly to the Italian peninsula due to its strategic location at the center of the Mediterranean Sea. Particularly, in 1998 two hundred Kurdish refugees arrived to Riace. This event sparked a profound sense of solidarity among the town’s residents, including the former professor Mimmo Lucano. It was during this time that the Città Futura Association was established, with the goal of assisting the newly arrived migrants by providing them with abandoned homes left behind by former residents who had emigrated over the years. The initiative aimed not only to offer shelter, but also to repopulate a town facing a significant demographic decline.

Città Futura took on the responsibility of managing asylum applications and migrant reception within the framework of the SPRAR (Protection System for Asylum Seekers and Refugees). From that moment on, Riace became a home not only for refugees but also for undocumented immigrants with the right to asylum. This approach helped sustain essential services, such as the local school, and supported the town’s economy through small-scale entrepreneurial activities in handicrafts and agriculture.

As migration flows to Italy increased, the National Asylum Program (PNA) was launched in 2001, with three main objectives: to establish a national system of reception, assistance, and protection for asylum seekers, refugees, and displaced persons; to promote integration; and to create mechanisms for voluntary repatriation and reintegration into their countries of origin.

In 2004, Mimmo Lucano was elected mayor of Riace, a position he held for three terms consecutively from 2004 to 2018, and one more time in 2024. His legacy is a system that embraces coexistence among different cultures as a valuable resource, and a model founded on the principle of shared humanity—the Riace model.

THE RIACE MODEL

This model was designed to avoid Riace the threat of becoming a “ghost town” by welcoming migrants and providing them with resources to help integrate into the community. The initiative sought to address the demographic challenges facing the region, which had been experiencing significant population decline due to economic migration from rural areas to urban centers, a very common trend in Italian villages. The Riace model operates on principles of inclusion and community involvement. It provided migrants with abandoned homes, job training, and a network of support that included local citizens. This innovative approach aimed to transform the socio-economic landscape of the town, fostering a sense of community between locals and newcomers. Unlike other towns, where schools close due to a lack of students, the kindergarten in Riace in 2017 hosted 30 children of different nationalities, providing jobs for 14 staff members. The new inhabitants were engaged in various local projects, which helped to create jobs and integrate them into the fabric of Riace. Many of the migrants and residents of Riace find employment in local workshops, reviving trades and traditions that had long fallen into disuse.

Over the years, several artisanal shops have been established, including those dedicated to ceramics, handloom weaving and wool spinning. Others focus on the production of preserved foods, dairy processing, bread-making, olive oil extraction and chocolate craftsmanship.

To address delays in the disbursement of funds for reception projects, Lucano implemented a smart system of “bonus vouchers”. Introduced around 2010, this form of virtual currency was designed to stimulate the local economy. Shopkeepers in Riace agreed to accept these vouchers, which could later be converted into euros once government funds were allocated—typically after a waiting period of six to seven months. This initiative not only strengthened local businesses, but also fostered mutual respect between residents and migrants.

Thus, migration, rather than being seen as a burden, became a valuable resource—an opportunity for renewal and a shift in perspective, allowing people to view migratory movements as a chance to invest in the rebirth of a town. Thanks to these remarkable efforts, in 2016, Fortune magazine recognized Riace’s mayor Domenico “Mimmo” Lucano as one of the 50 most influential people in the world.

FROM RECOGNITION TO REPRESSION: THE POLITICAL AND LEGAL STRUGGLES

The Riace model’s development coincided with significant changes in national immigration policy, particularly the shift towards a more centralized approach as initiated by the Decree Law in 2016. This shift reduced the autonomy of local institutions in managing integration projects, which posed challenges for the Riace model. Despite its initial success and recognition, the local administration faced heightened scrutiny and pressure from national authorities, leading to conflicts that necessitated a reassertion of the model’s identity as a means of resistance. Furthermore,

the Riace model faced also a political challenge, particularly under the government of Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini. Salvini’s right-wing party has been vocal against immigration, leading to increased scrutiny of Lucano’s administration. In October 2018, Lucano was arrested and placed under house arrest on charges related to facilitating “marriages of convenience” for immigration purposes and mismanagement of public funds, furthermore in 2019 he was accused of issuing identity documents to immigrants staying in reception centers. These allegations sparked national protests and a debate over the future of the Riace model. In the aftermath of Lucano’s arrest, the Italian Interior Ministry mandated the relocation of migrants from Riace, signaling a significant shift in the government’s approach to immigration and integration. Critics of the government’s actions view Lucano’s arrest as politically motivated, aimed at dismantling a model that had come to symbolize a more compassionate approach to immigration in Italy.

This situation led to the departure of several migrants, who sought a better life elsewhere, as well as their relocation to other SPRAR facilities. While certain legal regulations may have been violated —operating in a scenario that was partly illegal but morally licit and justifiable—these actions were taken in pursuit of a greater good: not only safeguarding human lives but also upholding the fundamental value of belonging to a shared humanity, because according to Lucano legality is not a synonym for democracy and equality.

On February 12, 2025, the Italian Supreme Court of Cassation upheld a final sentence of 18 months, with a suspended sentence, for Mimmo Lucano, who currently serves as both mayor of Riace and a Member of the European Parliament. He was found guilty of a single instance of falsifying a public document. In the first-instance ruling, he had been sentenced to 13 years and 2 months in prison.

“Instead of portraying migration as an invasion—as it has been framed for years by a criminal narrative designed to justify deportations, forced detentions, supporting the Libyan and Albanian camps—Riace has demonstrated that hospitality can be practiced with kindness. And for this reason, it had to be obstructed,” Lucano stated.

RIACE AND THE QUESTION OF SUSTAINABILITY: LEADERSHIP VS INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK

As of 2022, one-quarter of Riace’s 2,000 inhabitants are migrants from diverse regions, including Afghanistan, Kurdistan, Palestine, Somalia, Mali, and Senegal, contributing to a rebirth of local businesses and community services. The local economy saw the emergence of various small enterprises, alongside the reopening of schools and restaurants, creating a vibrant atmosphere of coexistence and mutual benefit. Under the leadership of Mayor Lucano, the town exemplified a positive integration model, fostering a sense of community among long-time residents and newcomers alike.

While Riace has received honors for its model, it is not the only town employing similar strategies. Nearby Satriano, for example, has also attempted to adopt the Riace model, but with less success in terms of job placement and community integration, highlighting the variability in outcomes across different municipalities. This situation raises questions about the scalability and sustainability of the Riace model, as well as the broader implications of migration and integration policies in Italy. In fact, The Riace model was largely associated with Lucano as an individual rather than with a broader institutional framework. This meant that decision-making was heavily dependent on his vision and leadership, as well as his preferences. When Lucano faced legal troubles and was removed from office, the project suffered setbacks. This scenario represents a broader challenge in social justice movements, namely when charismatic leadership is the driving force, the changes introduced might not be deeply institutionalized, making them susceptible to collapse once that leader is no longer in power. While Lucano’s work was groundbreaking, it also raises the question of whether migrant integration efforts should rely on exceptional individuals or require stronger structural mechanisms to ensure fairness, participation, and longevity.

RIACE’S LEGACY

Lucano’s vision emphasized the importance of dismantling barriers of race, discrimination, and poverty. His administration aimed to create a “happy community” where both locals and migrants could thrive, leading to a demographic shift where the number of births surpassed deaths in the town. By welcoming over 800 asylum seekers in more than 20 years, fostering a community where at least 20 different ethnic groups coexist harmoniously, Riace demonstrated that successful integration can foster mutual enrichment among both locals and newcomers, effectively addressing local demographic challenges and enhancing cultural diversity.

The Riace model stands as a testament to the power of solidarity, proving that migration can be an opportunity for renewal rather than a crisis, where integration and revitalization can go hand in hand. While its future remains uncertain, its legacy continues to inspire a clear message: when communities welcome diversity, they open doors to a more sustainable and compassionate future, challenging the conventional narratives of exclusion and fear.

Andrea Massarini is M.Sc. in Global Development, University of Copenhagen, DDRN Intern