The italian capital of colture application dossiers as a tool for territorial enhancement: the case of Valeggio sul Mincio, EuroMed Academy Conference Book of Proceedings, Vol. 19, EuroMed Academy, DOI: 10.68118/ema2026cy.

This paper examines the preparation of the application dossier for the Italian Capital of Culture as a tool for territorial enhancement and the activation of long-term cultural development processes. Through the case study of Valeggio sul Mincio, the contribution highlights how an integrated territorial analysis, grounded in quantitative and qualitative data, fosters collective awareness that translates into consciousness, responsibility, and action. Central to this process is the identification of strategic assets as interpretative devices for managing territorial complexity, along with bottom- up participation in the construction of a shared vision. The paper also underscores the potential of the dossier to function as a model of cultural governance grounded in collaboration among institutions, partners, and stakeholders, and in the creation of stable territorial networks, regardless of the final outcome of the application.