English

Legambiente is the most widespread environmental organization in Italy, with 20 Regional branches, more than 1,500 local groups in the whole country and more than 115,000 members. It is acknowledged as “association of environmental interest” by the Ministry of the Environment; it represents the UNEP National Committee for Italy, it is one of the leading member of EEB (“European Environmental Bureau”) the Federation of European environmental organization, and of IUCN - the World Conservation Union. The headquarter is in Rome, with a staff made up of fifty professionals and experts on different fields of activity.

Among the most important activities of Legambiente are the awareness and monitoring national campaigns, which put together the scientific analysis of environmental quality with the public awareness and mobilization to protect the environment, as Festambiente, the national festival of Legambiente.

Festambiente (International Festival of Ecology and Solidarity)

The international Festambiente is an ecological kermesse with three open-air big organic restaurants (with typical Italian and Mediterranean dishes), two BIO-Bar with organic produces, a Bio-Pizzeria using organic ingredients. Then the ecological city is composed by various areas (“different quarters and squares”…) where you can find cinema (environmental art movies), theatre, workshops, institutional and commercial stands, an Ekomarket with organic and natural products, a new age area (with yoga, rebirthing, shiatsu), ateliers for kids, kids’ garden with recycled plastic furniture, excursions in the nature (canoeing, natural park of Maremma, beaches, woods, rivers…), ateliers for adults (handcraft, Mediterranean herbs, natural soaps, natural liqueurs).
Every night big political events which foresee the participation of Italian Ministers (Environment, Justice, Social Affairs, etc.), politicians,  international contributions in the environmental field, NGOs, show men and women, and the most important media (Rai, Mediaset, Ansa…). After the political debate over an environmental theme the great music concert which attracts numberless young people and also families.
To have a complete overview of the eco-city of Festambiente, please visit www.festambiente.it
Great the participation also of international visitors.

The numbers of Festambiente:

   1. beyond 3 hectares of areas with expositive area, restaurant, cinema and concert spaces and 2500 mq exclusive for children
   2. 100,000 visitors
   3. beyond 2000 meal prepared every evening
   4. beyond 300 sponsorships (public and private)
   5. beyond 400 media
   6. beyond 100 stands with company and public institution
   7. beyond 10 new events organized every day (encounter, shows, laboratories of education acclimatize them....)
   8. beyond 150 employed in different fields

The formula of Festambiente:

   1. an expositive area with  100 stand,
   2. a space dedicated to the renewable energy with the last technologies and  innovations
   3. a "city" of 2500 mq dedicated to the children for their education and to sensitize their about the environmental thematic,
   4. a cinema with national and international courts and film with social connotation,
   5. a space “debate” where the public compare with national and international personalities about important theme (environmental, justice, biodiversity, culture).
   6. a space for the presentation of books
   7. an area for the exhibition of artists
   8. an area dedicated to the natural therapies with the participation of the more important regional and national schools of the field
   9. a vegetarian restaurant self-service
  10. two restaurants with typical, biological and traditional products
  11. a space for eno-gastronomic tasting in order to promote the agriculture of quality and the best regional typical products.

Festambiente and the stand’s Area:

In a big green area there is the expositive area.  Here, they are beyond 100 stands with  whit company and public institution (Ministries, municipalities, Regions, Parks).  Common issue is the valorization of the environmental patrimony , the ecologic and sustainable productions and the rural and handicraft products.

Festambiente and the focus:

The debate are an important appointment of Festambiente’s Agenda for the topics and actual arguments (protect areas, solidarity and legality) and the participation of important personalities (journalists, politician, natural Parks director). Only in the last edition, Festambiente has registered  80 speakers.

Festambiente and the products of quality:

The cultural patrimony of a territory passes through the eno-gastronomic products.  The typical products, the traditional and handicraft methods of production are the "DNA" of one the Region.  For this reason, Festambiente organize any appointments for the promotion of the typical national and international products.

The "Officine dei Sapori" are free tasting for 25/30 persons.  Here, it is possible to know or to find typical and traditional products.  The limited number (for registration) and the presence of an expert guarantees a good explanation of peculiarities and qualities of the products tested.  The "Officina dei sapori" have demonstrated to be a great instrument in order to deepen the eno-gastronomic products of quality of the Tuscany and of other Regions in Italy through the assay of some exemplificative productions of these territories.

The "Rassegne" are an other tested instrument for the involving of the public towards an feeding of quality, made of traditional and typical products. Every meal is prepared respecting the territorial prescriptions and every product is illustrated by an expert.  The "Rassegne" are important moments for the territorial appreciation and for the promotion of enogastronomic tourism. For this reason, enterprises, farms and public institutions (Parks, municipalities) would participate to this important event that Festambiente dedicates to the eno-gastronomic products.

Festambiente and the international dimension:

Festambiente has confirmed a point of encounter between different cultures.  it has been  possible for the numerous contacts with  environmental associations, international Parks and international institutions as Ue, Unep, for example. These organizations collaborate with Legambiente in international projects of solidarity  and in actions of protection and valorization of the nature and biodiversity.  This network is a point of force of Festambiente and a value for the Festival.

International Exhibition of Extravergine Olive Oils and organic wines. With this initiative, Festambiente confirm her engagement in promoting of high quality extravergine olive oils and organic wines, making them known and appreciated to a wide public.  oils are examined through blind tasting by a Panel co-ordinate by the Chief Panel Dr. Tonino Zelinotti.

Press and media

n. 470 in total (see the list) the media which spoke of Festambiente 2006.

Conclusions:
In the course of these 18 editions, Festambiente has demonstrated of  being present in the provincial and regional dimension and of being an event a lot important for the promotion of typical and traditional products. At the same time, the festival confirm to be a national important appointment in order to speak of sustainable development, renewable energy, traditions,  quality of the life and strategies for their guarantee.