Andora Celebrates Centenarian Poet, Welcomes Olive-Town Network Growth and New Youth Council Leaders
Andora — Feb. 14, 2026 ET — The coastal town has been the setting for a trio of civic moments this week: a local writer and poet reached the milestone of 100 years; the regional olive‑town network expanded with four new members at a ceremony held in the area; and the town’s youth council elected its new student mayor and deputy. Each event underlines Andora’s blending of cultural heritage, agricultural identity and civic education.
Centenary for Salvatore La Franca: a life in letters and civic affection
Salvatore La Franca, resident of Andora and author of 54 books, celebrated his 100th birthday surrounded by family, friends and municipal recognition. Long rooted in the town since 1952, La Franca has been described by local officials as a devoted chronicler of Andora’s life and landscape, often through poetry. His works and public presence have been held up as examples of intellectual curiosity and civic attachment.
The mayor extended warm wishes on behalf of the municipal administration, noting La Franca’s contribution to local culture and citing his poem "La Porta" as a tribute to the town. Family members and members of the local community joined in celebration, acknowledging a life that included professional periods abroad as well as decades of creative production devoted to documenting Andora.
Four inland towns broaden Liguria’s olive‑town network to 38 members
At a regional coordination meeting hosted in the area, four inland Ligurian communes — Testico, Stellanello, Toirano and Vendone — were formally incorporated into the national olive‑town network, bringing the Ligurian contingent to 38 municipalities. The ceremony included presentation of the organization’s flag as a symbol of membership and shared commitment.
The newly admitted towns are characterized by terraced groves, traditional cultivation practices and landscapes where olive growing sustains both biodiversity and cultural identity. Officials at the meeting also conferred an honorary leadership role on a well‑known regional figure in recognition of long service to the network.
What the expansion means for landscape and local economies
The enlargement of the network is intended to strengthen cooperative promotion of extra‑virgin olive oil as a product tied to place, tradition and sustainable land management. In the inland communes, olive cultivation plays a vital role in preserving terraces and preventing soil erosion, while small‑scale production reinforces local gastronomic identity and can support agritourism development.
Municipal leaders emphasized that the flag ceremony is more than symbolic: it signals coordinated efforts in branding, quality promotion and landscape protection across a region that values its olive heritage.
Youth council elections: Camilla Caruso and Gabriel Paonessa take office
The Consiglio Comunale dei Ragazzi (municipal youth council) assembled for its annual vote and chose Camilla Caruso, a student in class 3A, as mayor and Gabriel Paonessa, from class 1C, as deputy mayor. The junior council, established to encourage civic engagement among students, brings together representatives from multiple classes of the local secondary school.
School and municipal officials attended the session and praised the initiative for fostering an early understanding of public administration and participatory democracy. The youth council will work on projects aimed at representing student concerns to the municipal government and promoting active citizenship among peers.
Outlook: culture, agriculture and civic participation aligned
Together, the centenary celebration, the olive‑town network expansion and the youth council election present a portrait of a community attentive to heritage and forward‑looking in governance. Cultural memory and written testimony, landscape stewardship tied to olive cultivation, and investment in young civic leaders are converging priorities for the town as it moves into the new year.
Local they plan to continue highlighting Andora’s literary traditions, to integrate newly joined inland towns into regional promotional activities for olive oil, and to support the youth council’s initiatives in the months ahead.
