The idea of creating a region that would incorporate areas of Liguria,
Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna and Lombardy was first discussed in the 1800s by the
founding fathers of the Italian Republic. To be called Lunezia, a name coined
in 1989 by magistrate Alberto Grassi and based on the names of the areas of
‘Luni’ or ‘Lunigiana’ and ‘Spezia,’ the proposed region would have incorporated
the provinces of La Spezia, Massa-Carrara, Parma, Piacenza, Reggio Emilia and
Mantova, as well as smaller parts of Cremona and Lucca.
Upon the unification of Italy, however, the areas that would have become Lunezia were incorporated into bordering
regions.
Now, some inhabitants of the once-proposed Lunezia territory want their own region.
Among the supporters of the pro-Lunezia movement are the provincial
presidents of La Spezia and Massa Carrara, Marino Fiasella and Osvaldo Angeli,
respectively. Aside from considering the possibility of joining their provinces
into one through a referendum, the two officials are also considering the
possibility of advocating that Lunezia obtain autonomous regional power and
status.
Recently, more
than 800 inhabitants in La Spezia took part in a survey conducted by CDS on
Lunezia. Although 38 percent of those surveyed said they preferred no change,
45 percent of residents responded that they were in favour of making Lunezia a
region.
For more information, see www.lunezia.com,
operated by the Lunezia Region cultural association.
