Villa Piazzo - Associazione Pacefuturo

What Villa Piazzo - Associazione Pacefuturo does

PACEFUTURO ETS (legal name: PACEFUTURO ETS; P.IVA 02657900029) is an Italian non-profit association (Ente del Terzo Settore, organised as ODV) founded around 2005 in Pettinengo, Biella, and operating around three pillars — Accoglienza (reception/integration), Cultura (culture), and Territorio (territorial development). It runs the Centro di Accoglienza Straordinaria (CAS) since 2014 in collaboration with the Italian Ministry of Interior through the Prefettura di Biella, using the 'metodo diffuso' (diffused method) that distributes asylum seekers across the community rather than concentrating them in a single facility; the organization describes itself as one of the largest reference centers in Italy and abroad for this model.

Its core assets are centered on Villa Piazzo, a historic villa and park in Pettinengo that functions as headquarters, event venue, and site of the world's first permanent installation of Michelangelo Pistoletto's 'Terzo Paradiso'. Hospitality operations include the L'Elefante Fritz boutique lodge and the The sPACE hostel (under renovation as a slow tourism and intergenerational inclusion project), together with the Fritz Club community space. Cultural programming runs through the Accademia dell'accoglienza and Impronte di Pace — workshops, artistic residencies, a summer school, a film festival, and multi-day walks — with collaborative projects such as the 'Transumanza' exhibition with Canadian Métis artist Corinna Wollf and the 'Giardino della Giò' tulip garden with Associazione Piccola Fata.

Revenue comes from three streams: government payments for the CAS program, recurring donations and membership contributions (via PayPal), and accommodation/event fees from the boutique lodge, hostel, and event hire. GTM is direct and community-based — website content, newsletter, social media, and on-site cultural events — with all distribution domestic and concentrated on a single site in the Biella hills. Stefano Zumaglini was appointed President in June 2025 succeeding prior leadership.

Name

Villa Piazzo - Associazione Pacefuturo

Legal name

PACEFUTURO ETS

Website

https://pacefuturo.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

PACEFUTURO ETS is an Italian non-profit association in Pettinengo, Biella, that operates the state-funded Centro di Accoglienza Straordinaria (diffused-method refugee reception since 2014), cultural programs, and tourism accommodations via Villa Piazzo, L'Elefante Fritz lodge, and The sPACE hostel.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social services / refugee reception and community hospitality

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Tour Operators (561520)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Conservation Parks & Private Nature Reserves (Visitor Operations) (THAAAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Adventure/Outdoor Base Hostels (Ski/Surf/Trek) (THAGAGAG), Recreation & Activity Services (Hiking, Boating, Climbing, Fishing—Guided/Authorized) (THAAAGAF), Multi-Activity & Expedition Packages (Guided Adventure Trips) (THAJABAL)

Keywords

• Refugee reception services
• Social tourism hospitality
• Community integration programs
• Nonprofit cultural venue
• Asylum seeker accommodation

Headquarters

HQ city

Pettinengo

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Hospitality Services: Revenue from boutique lodge (L'Elefante Fritz) and hostel (The sPACE) operations catering to tourists seeking nature-based experiences in Pettinengo
2. Donations and Support: Voluntary donations through PayPal and membership contributions from supporters ('Become a member of Pacefuturo')
3. Government-Funded Reception Services: Funding from Ministry of Interior through Prefettura di Biella for the Centro di Accoglienza Straordinaria reception center project operational since 2014

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Pacefuturo ETS runs an integrated social project centered on Villa Piazzo in Pettinengo, Biella. Its principal service is the Centro di Accoglienza Straordinaria (CAS), an Extraordinary Reception Center for international protection seekers operated since 2014 with the Italian Ministry of Interior via the Prefettura di Biella using the 'metodo diffuso' (diffused method). Alongside this, it operates tourism and cultural assets — L'Elefante Fritz boutique lodge, The sPACE hostel, Fritz Club social space, and cultural/academy programs (Accademia dell'accoglienza, Impronte di Pace) — and maintains over 20 km of hiking trails in the Biella hills.

Product overview

PACEFUTURO ETS is a non-profit organization (Ente del Terzo Settore) operating as a social project centered around Villa Piazzo in Pettinengo, Biella. The portfolio includes the Extraordinary Reception Center (CAS) for international protection seekers, three hospitality offerings (L'Elefante Fritz boutique lodge, The sPACE hostel, Fritz Club), and cultural programs through the Accademia dell'accoglienza. The integrated model combines integration services, slow tourism, cultural events, and territorial valorization across all offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Villa Piazzo: A historic villa and park in Pettinengo, headquarters of the association. Site of the first permanent installation of Michelangelo Pistoletto's Terzo Paradiso, and a hub for cultural events, tourism, and social programs.
• L'Elefante Fritz
• The sPACE
• Fritz Club
• Accademia dell'Accoglienza
• Impronte di Pace

Products and services

• Centro di Accoglienza Straordinaria (CAS) Extraordinary Reception Center for international protection seekers operated in Pettinengo since 2014 under contract with the Italian Ministry of Interior via the Prefettura di Biella; uses the 'metodo diffuso' (diffused method) and is positioned as one of the major reference centers in Italy and abroad for this approach.
• L'Elefante Fritz Boutique lodge accommodation in Pettinengo offering nature-based hospitality for travelers seeking relaxation in the Biella hills; part of the social tourism initiative at Villa Piazzo.
• The sPACE Hostel accommodation under renovation in Pettinengo designed as a slow-tourism facility co-located with a daytime center for the elderly to promote intergenerational inclusion and dialogue.
• Fritz Club Social/recreational club at Villa Piazzo serving as a community gathering space for cultural and social activities tied to the association's mission.
• Accademia dell'accoglienza Academy of Hospitality offering workshops, artistic residencies, summer schools, film festivals, and multi-day walks for youth in the Biella area; an educational and community-building framework focused on integration and cultural exchange.
• Impronte di Pace Peace Footprints cultural and educational project featuring workshops, artistic residencies, summer school, film festival, and 3-day walks for youth in the Biella area; part of the Accademia dell'accoglienza program.
• Villa Piazzo Historic villa and park in Pettinengo functioning as Pacefuturo's headquarters, an event venue, and a territorial laboratory; hosts cultural events, exhibitions, and the first permanent installation of Michelangelo Pistoletto's Terzo Paradiso.

Quantifiable outcome

• One of the major centers of reference in Italy and abroad for the diffused reception method

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Ministero degli Interni (Ministry of Interior - Italy)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Since 2014, Pacefuturo collaborates with the Ministry of Interior through the Prefettura di Biella to implement the 'Pettinengo, un paese che accoglie' project for the reception of international protection seekers. This partnership established the Centro di Accoglienza Straordinaria using the diffused reception method.
• Prefettura di BiellacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government liaison for implementing the national reception program for asylum seekers in the Biella province. Coordinates the 'Pettinengo, un paese che accoglie' initiative.
• Michelangelo Pistoletto - Città dell'ArteflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerVilla Piazzo park hosts the first permanent installation in the world of Michelangelo Pistoletto's 'Terzo Paradiso' (Third Paradise), a major artistic and philosophical project. This partnership positions the venue as a landmark for art and social regeneration.
• De Nieuwe CreatievenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch creative organization led by Ellis Schoonhoven that organizes creative workshops at Villa Piazzo. Organized 'As Nature Speaks – The Artist's Way in Italy' workshop series from May 24-31, 2026.
• Associazione Piccola FataminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal association in Pettinengo collaborating on cultural projects including the 'Giardino della Giò' tulip garden (15,000+ bulbs planted) and children's art workshops like the Mauro Rossetti exhibition.
• Comune di PettinengocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal government of Pettinengo collaborating on cultural initiatives including exhibitions, the Giardino della Giò project, and general community development programs.
• Corinna WollfminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMétis artist from Canada (Edmonton/Saskatchewan) living in Pettinengo who creates beadwork art installations at Villa Piazzo. Her 'Transumanza. L'arte nella migrazione' project dialogues between Red River Métis traditions and Biella Alpine pastoral culture.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Rete SAI (Sistema di Accoglienza e Integrazione): National network coordinating public reception and integration services for asylum seekers and refugees in Italy, succeeding SPRAR/SIPROIMI. Most directly comparable to Pacefuturo's CAS operations, though SAI is a coordinating network rather than a single operator.
• Mediterranean Hope: Italian ecumenical reception project running reception programs for migrants and refugees in multiple Italian locations with cultural integration components. Directly comparable as a faith-based, culture-integrated reception operator in Italy.
• AIG - Associazione Italiana Alberghi per la Gioventù: Italian Youth Hostel Association operating hostel accommodations across Italy for budget and experiential travelers. Directly comparable to The sPACE hostel operations, though AIG is a broader network operator.

Broad incumbents

• FAI - Fondo Ambiente Italiano: Italy's leading heritage foundation that manages historic properties and gardens for public visitation, hosts cultural events, and operates visitor services. Highly comparable to Pacefuturo's Villa Piazzo park operations and cultural programming model, though FAI operates at national scale across many sites.
• Legambiente: Major Italian environmental association managing parks, eco-volunteer programs, and territorial valorization initiatives including hiking trail maintenance. Comparable for the environmental-territorial orientation and trail-based activities in Italian natural settings.
• Slow Food Italia: Italian branch of the global Slow Food movement, promoting local food cultures, territorial development, and sustainable hospitality (including the Ostelli Slow Food network). Comparable for combining territorial valorization with hospitality and education, though at much larger scale.
• Touring Club Italiano: Historic Italian cultural and tourism association operating heritage properties, publishing travel content, and promoting slow/responsible tourism across Italy. Comparable for the cultural-tourism-territorial combination, though at national scale.

Emerging players

• Cascina Biblioteca: Milan-based social and cultural hub combining coworking, food services, events, and community programming in a recovered rural building. Comparable as an Italian social enterprise blending hospitality, culture, and community regeneration.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/thespace.hostel
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/villa-piazzo-associazione-pacefuturo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Villa Piazzo - Associazione Pacefuturo