The Budget Committee of the Municipality of Sassari has approved the major budget adjustment, bringing €24 million into the coffers of Palazzo Ducale for the regeneration of the historic centre. The measure, proposed by Budget Councillor Giuseppe Masala and discussed at the meeting called by committee chair Antonio Paoni, must now be examined by the Municipal Council, which has been convened for Thursday afternoon.
The funds will finance two main projects: “Sassari, city of culture, art and creativity”, supported by the regional ERDF 2021–2027 programme, and “Sassari Città Regia”, funded through the Sardinia Region’s development and cohesion funds.
A cultural district between Piazza Tola and Piazza d’Armi
The first project is worth approximately €17 million overall. More than €9.5 million will be allocated to the former Chiarella Printing House and Piazza Tola, while €6.7 million will concern the Astra Cinema-Theatre complex. A further €700,000 will support micro, small and medium-sized enterprises operating in the cultural and tourism sectors.
The former Chiarella Printing House, a building of more than 2,400 square metres spread over several levels, is expected to become a cultural district with multimedia spaces, digital technologies, smart installations and interactive totems. The project includes a connection with the municipal library in Palazzo d’Usini, overlooking Piazza Tola, which is set to become one of the city centre’s main cultural hubs. The approach is modelled on Bologna’s Salaborsa.
The Astra Cinema-Theatre, meanwhile, will be converted into a cultural production hub equipped with advanced technological systems, coworking areas, spaces for start-ups and business activities linked to culture. The programme also includes the redevelopment of Piazza d’Armi, currently marked by unused buildings and inadequate lighting.
A historical route along the ancient walls
The remaining €7 million will go towards Sassari’s share of the “Città Regie della Sardegna” project, which also involves Alghero, Bosa, Cagliari, Castelsardo, Iglesias and Oristano. Sassari is the lead municipality for the initiative, which concerns the centres that, during the Aragonese and Spanish dominations, enjoyed particular privileges and depended directly on the sovereign.
The project includes a historical itinerary from the market square to Porta Sant’Antonio, passing through Piazza Pescheria, Via Rosello and Via delle Muraglie. Plans include rebuilding the ancient walkway and redeveloping the turrets that stood above the walls, with particular attention to the remains still visible on Corso Trinità.
“With this project, we aim to strengthen the area’s cultural identity, enhancing the city’s artistic and creative heritage as a strategic driver of development and urban regeneration,” Masala said during the committee meeting. For Mayor Giuseppe Mascia, culture must become the driving force behind the city’s economic and social revival, starting with its historic core.