Towns
The Sparrows project brings together three rural European villages with fewer than 400 inhabitants: Fontecchio (Italy), Alte (Portugal), and Azuébar (Spain).
Despite being located in different countries, these communities share a strong commitment to preserving traditional knowledge and sustainable practices passed down through generations.
Through the project, they have worked together to document local wisdom, promote intergenerational learning, and highlight how traditional ways of living can contribute to more sustainable and resilient rural communities.
Fontecchio
Fontecchio is a small medieval village in the Abruzzo region of central Italy, located in the Subequana Valley.
Its name derives from the abundance of natural water sources in the area.
The village preserves a rich historical heritage, with stone-paved streets, defensive towers, and medieval buildings, and it was one of the settlements that contributed to the foundation of the city of L'Aquila in the 13th century.
Alte
Alte is a picturesque village in the inland Algarve region of Portugal, widely regarded as one of the most authentic and traditional villages in the area.
It is known for its whitewashed houses, decorative chimneys, cobbled streets, and natural springs.
Surrounded by the hills of the Serra do Caldeirão, Alte has maintained its strong rural character and rich cultural heritage.
Azuébar
Azuébar is a municipality in the Alto Palancia district, in the province of Castellón, Spain, located on the slopes of the Sierra de Espadán Natural Park.
The area is renowned for its Mediterranean forests, particularly cork oak woodlands, and for natural spaces of high ecological value such as Mosquera.
The village itself sits on a hillside crowned by the remains of a historic castle, reflecting its long and diverse history.
