People of Halaesa Nebrodi: Chiara Dimaggio and her Domus Immobiliare

Face to face with Chiara Dimaggio, a young and brilliant real estate agent operating in the territory of Halaesa Nebrodi.

Through her agency, Domus Immobiliare, she is fulfilling her lifelong dream: making the people she meets happy by sharing her contagious smile with them. One of her slogans says: "Life takes you to unexpected places, Love brings you Home," and Chiara, interpreting this mission with exceptional enthusiasm, has found homes for many people — both Italian and foreign — to whom, above all else, she introduced the territory, its soul, and the people who live there, adding extraordinary value to her delicate and vital work.

Chiara, what is a real estate agent doing in a local tourism marketing group?

At first glance, the role of a real estate agent within a tourism-oriented territorial marketing group might seem distant. In reality, it is not at all. The presence of a real estate agent in a territorial marketing group is not a mere formality: it is an added value. I am firmly convinced that when a town grows, all the businesses connected to it grow as well.

The core objective of GMT™ Halaesa Nebrodi is the promotion of the Halaesa Valley territory, and on this front, the group is doing an excellent job. Such extensive promotion can only bring benefits to a business like mine, which for years has invested time, energy, and passion into enhancing the value of the territory.

Yours is a young journey, yet rich with experience in the real estate sector.

My business is young, just as I am. I opened my real estate agency at only 22 years old. I remember with pleasure what pushed me to embark on this adventure. I was preparing my last three subjects for my bachelor's degree when, in a moment of high stress, I decided to change direction. It was thanks to a reflection shared by my father that I chose to attend the real estate agent course.

From there, a world opened up: my world. I became licensed for the profession, earned a bachelor's degree in Political Science and International Relations, and subsequently a master's degree in Public Administration. Today, those degrees are hanging on the wall, because the passion for my work took over and grows day by day. If I am who I am today, I owe it to the professionalism and dedication with which I perform this job. For almost 11 years, I have been making people's dreams come true, and I hope to continue doing so for many years to come.

What role do you play in GMT Halaesa Nebrodi: can you give an assessment and what are the future prospects?

I immediately embraced the GMT™ Halaesa Nebrodi project and the ideas of its creator, Andrea Succi. From the very first meeting, I was struck by his spirit, his determination, and his desire to provide a concrete contribution.

The GMT™ operates in a territory that unfortunately has experienced significant depopulation and economic regression in recent years. However, the group is made up of young entrepreneurs and professionals who deeply believe in the potential of the place where they live. In these two years, through the launch of the website, participation in the recent BTE in Palermo, constant social media promotion, and the creation of travel packages, the GMT™ has helped to make the territory known and achieve its main goal: to grow and improve the entire Nebro-Alesino district.

Will we succeed? Yes, I am certain of it. Can we do more? Absolutely. We can and must always improve, but we have all the skills to do it.

Social media and real estate: putting your face out there pays off.

The growth of my business has been strongly influenced by a constant and effective presence on social media. I say it and I will always repeat it: today, social media is decisive for the growth and image of a business. Once, newspapers were used; today everything passes through social networks, and I have fully embraced this change.

Through videos, I tell the story of the properties, but often also the stories of those who lived in them. I talk about the territory, with particular attention to Tusa, my grandparents' village, the place of my childhood and my heart. Thanks to this work — and I take credit for it — real estate transactions in the municipality of Tusa have increased exponentially, and today the village is known internationally. Putting your face out there is fundamental: people want to know who they are trusting. A logo creates distance; I, instead, build relationships based on trust, friendship, and respect.

What do you expect from the territory and what can be improved?

One of my greatest desires is to see the small villages flourish again. I imagine towns full of life, people, businesses, and lively venues. I wish that even those who live there daily would take an extra step to promote, beautify, and enhance them. I hope that local administrations can intervene with small improvements that, over time, could make a big difference.

I am very confident and, above all, proactive. Who knows, maybe our group, by joining forces, will manage to take giant leaps and surprise the territory around us. I invite anyone who wants to contribute to the growth of the territory to join the Territorial Marketing Group: together we can do great things.

The "Halaesa Nebrodi" project lands at the BTE in Palermo: a model for the regeneration of inland areas

The GMT™ Halaesa Nebrodi, launched just two years ago, is preparing for a significant milestone and on November 15th and 16th, it will be a protagonist at the BTE – Borsa del Turismo Extralberghiero (Non-Hotel Accommodation Tourism Exchange) in Palermo, a key event for the sector that will be held at the Cruise Terminal.

Reaching this important stage has not been easy. Its success is the result of the enthusiasm of local operators and the fundamental economic contribution of two sensitive and motivated sponsors: Mammana Group and Azienda Sacco Franca. Thanks to this synergy, the Territory will be present through an integrated tourism proposal, the result of the valuable scouting, organization, and coordination work carried out by the CTT™ of Halaesa Nebrodi.

The BTE: A Benchmark for Tourism Sustainability

Now in its 9th edition, the BTE – Borsa del Turismo Extralberghiero is organized by Confesercenti Sicilia with the patronage and collaboration of important institutions, including the Region of Sicily – Department of Tourism, Sport and Entertainment, the City of Palermo, the Metropolitan City of Palermo, and OTIE (Observatory of Tourism in the European Islands).

The event has consolidated its leadership in central-southern Italy, best interpreting the needs of those promoting tourism sustainability, with a particular focus on inland areas and territories less frequented by traditional tourist routes. The BTE acts as a crucial link between accommodation facilities, tour operators, travel agencies, experience promoters, and travelers. For the GMT™ Halaesa Nebrodi, participation in this Exchange therefore represents a natural and important point of arrival.

An Intensive Journey to Build the Tourist Destination

The GMT™ Halaesa Nebrodi intended, from the outset, to create and strengthen its brand as an authentic Tourist Destination. The journey has been intense and full of fundamental stages:

• January 26, 2024: Official presentation of the project in Mistretta during the Sicilian stage of the Gran Tour dell’Ospitalità organized by Territori e Italianità, a community of professionals conceived and coordinated nationally and internationally by Andrea Succi with the aim of promoting the Cultural and Tourism Regeneration of inland areas.

• April 29, 2024: Presentation of the official website www.halaesanebrodi.it in Castel di Tusa.

• September 21, 2024: Meeting in Castel di Lucio, during which an Action Plan was proposed to the Mayors of the Territory.

• Spring 2025: Publication of the first Tourist Products Catalogue in collaboration with the Tour Operator Aura Mundi by Katia Mastroeni.

This work has been constantly supported by an active presence on social media channels (Facebook and Instagram), with the production of professional content thanks to the valuable collaboration of Living Sikelia and Il mondo attraverso di Salvatore Marra.

Halaesa Nebrodi: Between B2B, Exhibition Space, and Seminars

The constant commitment of over twenty Operators and the work of the CTT™ – Territorial Tourism Coordinator now converge in the participation in the BTE in Palermo, where the Halaesa Nebrodi project will be present in full form:

• A dedicated exhibition space to meet visitors and industry professionals.

• Access to the B2B area, essential for initiating commercial relationships with national and foreign tour operators.

• An active presence with a speak during the seminar Strumenti bottom-up per competere (Bottom-up Tools for Competing), scheduled for Saturday the 15th at 5:30 PM. The experience of Halaesa Nebrodi will be presented as a concrete model for the regeneration of inland areas.

During the event, a promotional video of the project, created by Emanuele Torre of Torre Films, will also be presented.

A Future for Inland Areas

In un'epoca in cui le destinazioni tradizionali soffrono di overtourism, le vaste aree interne – custodi di un patrimonio materiale e immateriale di immenso valore – necessitano di modelli organizzativi efficaci. Il modello GMT™ è la risposta a una domanda turistica sempre più orientata all'esperienza autentica e al contatto intimo con le Persone e il Territorio. È un modello replicabile che intendiamo proporre su scala regionale, rafforzato dall'esperienza maturata nel nostro territorio e che può trovare ulteriore e reciproco impulso da future sinergie.

Gli anni a venire saranno cruciali per tracciare la rotta futura delle splendide comunità coinvolte.

“Viaggiare è aggiungere vita alla vita.” – Gesualdo Bufalino

"History and Archaeology between Amastra and Halaesa - Study Day in memory of Sebastiano Tusa": this was the title of the interesting meeting held on October 18 in Mistretta at the Salone del Circolo Unione, moderated by the Telemistretta journalist, Dr. Giuseppe Cuva.

The long-standing association, together with the broadcaster Telemistretta and under the capable direction of Dr. Salvatore Antoci, seized the opportunity to bring together the municipalities of Mistretta and Tusa, on whose territories stand two archaeological sites of great importance and depth: Amastra and Halaesa.

The presentation was entrusted to Dr. Salvatore Antoci, who, in tracing the excursus that led to the event, wanted to emphasize how the entire district needs economic and social development actions, stressing the importance of the two archaeological sites as elements of tourism development. These concepts were also expressed by the President of the Circolo Unione, surveyor Mario Di Franco, who highlighted how these events, along with others such as the Maria Messina Prize and the Giuseppe Cocchiara Prize, are useful tools for transmitting memory and knowledge, as well as providing a significant reflection to trace a path for the future through the past.

The speech by Monsignor Michele Giordano, President of the Telemistretta Association, was heartfelt and pertinent; he invited everyone present, and also those connected live, to firmly support the regional broadcaster as it is an expression and voice of the Territory. Monsignor Giordano also reiterated how necessary it is to strengthen the union between municipalities and territories, working fruitfully outside of local rivalries (campanilismi).

The address by the Mayor of Mistretta, Dr. Sebastiano Sanzarello, focused on the importance of the archaeological field for the two cities of Mistretta and Tusa which, together with ancient Calacte (today's Caronia), represented an important commercial and cultural gateway between the hinterland and the Tyrrhenian coast in the past. It is plausible that the city's origins are Phoenician, as this people, despite coming from the sea, used to establish settlements in the nearby hinterland to protect their commercial interests. The importance of the intimate relationship between the hinterland, the coast, and maritime routes – continued Sanzarello – was perfectly grasped by Sebastiano Tusa, who dedicated much of his work to studying submerged artifacts, convinced that they were also witnesses to the history of the inland communities. Sanzarello, bringing the focus back to the archaeological site of Amastra, highlighted how his administration has paid great attention to the past and present excavations carried out in the area of the Arab-Norman Castle, even though he is aware that, given the three-millennium stratification of the inhabited center, most of the treasures are and will remain hidden underground, unlike Halaesa which arose in a site completely different from the current Tusa. Sanzarello also reiterated that, through intense collaboration with the Superintendency for Cultural and Environmental Heritage of Messina, further archaeological research will be initiated at the Castle site.

The action of the municipality of Tusa – continued Lawyer Angelo Tudisca, Mayor of the city – has been focused for several decades on deepening the history of Halaesa Arconidea, a Siculo-Greek city founded in 403 BC. In recent years, the site has been the subject of new excavations that have brought to light a thermal complex of considerable importance and, despite the skepticism of some, even the ancient theater. Tudisca also emphasized the importance of the relationship resulting from the agreements stipulated with various national and international universities and the fundamental role played by the late Prof. Tusa, who always accompanied and supported the administrative activity in this direction. "We invest heavily in young people," Tudisca continued, "and for several years, with a view to raising their awareness of archaeology, we have organized summer camps hosting dozens of young people, bringing them closer to the ancient world through the site of Halaesa."

The speech by Prof. Giovanni Travagliato, an art historian, focused on the enormous amount of work produced by Sebastiano Tusa over the years, making him a true pillar of modern archaeology. Sebastiano Tusa – continued Travagliato – was able to frame the Mediterranean Sea not only as a place of conflict but also of encounter, and therefore he leaves us a legacy of enormous value that we must be able to preserve and transmit to the new generations. "We are often led to remember heroes who died in war," said Travagliato, "but we must also give the right value to those who died in peace, starting with the illustrious Mistrettese people, from Tommaso Aversa to Maria Messina, Giuseppe Cocchiara and many other Amastratini who served and studied the territory in order to transmit ancient history, culture, and traditions to the new generations."

Prof. Aurelio Burgio, Professor of Archaeology at the University of Palermo and the architect of the latest findings at the Halaesa site, then highlighted the importance of the entire western Nebrodi area, recalling the importance over the centuries of other major settlements such as Calacte-Caronia, Apollonia-San Fratello, and Aluntium-San Marco d'Alunzio. "Intense and lively synergies already existed between different communities in ancient times," stressed Burgio, "and today archaeological finds can become an effective element to combat the depopulation of villages and restore vitality to communities by picking up the thread of history." Burgio continued, "We must remember that the Faro Convention aims to activate citizens to participate in archaeological discoveries," an invitation promptly accepted by Professor Maria Grazia Antinoro, present in the audience, Principal of the I.S.S. Alessandro Manzoni, ready to engage her students in the world of archaeology. "These meeting moments," concluded Burgio, "represent perspectives through which we can trace the future together."

The conclusion of the intense afternoon was entrusted to Dr. Valeria Li Vigni Tusa, Prof. Tusa's wife, archaeologist, current Superintendent of the Sea, and President of the Sebastiano Tusa Foundation. The brilliant initiative identified the late Prof. Sebastiano Tusa as an exceptional common thread, as her husband represented and continues to represent an authoritative figure in the international archaeological world. "We owe him," his wife reminded us, "the discovery of the Dancing Satyr of Mazara, the Imperial Heads of Pantelleria, the Kouros found in Lentini, and the Rostra of the Battle of the Aegates Islands."

"Sebastiano," Li Vigni Tusa told us, "was the promoter of the establishment of 27 submerged museums, authentic underwater cultural itineraries accessible with the system of remote sensing and augmented virtual reality, thus honoring the vision he had always fought for regarding underwater archaeological finds, understood as a heritage belonging to everyone and which we must all be the custodians of. Starting precisely with the fishermen," Li Vigni continued in her speech, "since they are very often the discoverers of these memories hidden at the bottom of the sea, people of exceptional importance with whom my husband managed to forge intense collaborative relationships. In the same way, he loved interacting with citizens, administrators, associations, and institutions, as they are all part of a great project of cultural regeneration of the history and memory of the peoples who lived, inhabited, and charted the Mediterranean."

"My husband," Li Vigni Tusa continued, "loved Mistretta deeply, to which he was bound by a sincere and intimate relationship transmitted to him by his father Vincenzo, born in Mistretta, who was also an archaeologist of great stature. Certain events such as the feast of San Sebastiano and the Madonna della Luce were unmissable moments for my husband: although not born in Mistretta, he always felt and cultivated a strong bond with the city that gave birth to his father and that he frequented as a child. Upon his death, we felt the need to give continuity to the enormous work carried out by Sebastiano over the years through the establishment of the Sebastiano Tusa Foundation because we want to commemorate the over 700 writings elaborated by my husband and continue in the indelible path he indicated over decades of incessant and exciting work. The Foundation's activity is very intense and develops through relationships with institutions and communities thanks to the organization of seminars, workshops, and reviews." Li Vigni Tusa concluded, "Sicily is a watercolor composed of strong colors and soft colors, and we are all its custodians."

Sebastiano Tusa tragically and prematurely died in a plane crash in Bishoftu, Ethiopia, on March 10, 2019, on a flight that would have taken him to Malindi to participate in a UNESCO conference in his capacity as Regional Councillor for Cultural Heritage of the Region of Sicily. The institution of the Superintendency of the Sea by the Region of Sicily in 2004 is attributed to him.

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