A new connection between Italy and the United States is taking shape at the city level. Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri and Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas signed an agreement on October 1, 2026, designed to create ongoing cooperation between Italian and American local leaders on some of the most pressing challenges facing cities today.
The agreement was signed at Palazzo Valentini in Rome at the conclusion of the two-day Festival delle Città. Gualtieri signed as president of ALI – Autonomie Locali Italiane – while Lucas represented the Democratic Mayors Association, which brings together Democratic mayors across the United States.
Housing is one of the central areas of cooperation. Cities on both sides of the Atlantic are confronting rising housing costs and growing pressure to provide accessible homes. The partnership will encourage administrators to exchange policies, experiences and practical solutions. Climate adaptation, mobility, public services and the overall quality of urban life are also part of the dialogue.
The Rome meetings included an opportunity to examine projects already underway in the Italian capital. Lucas visited Parco Marconi, the historic market on Via Cola di Rienzo and the former Porto Fluviale military complex, which has been redeveloped to include public housing.
The initiative also follows Gualtieri’s participation in the Urban 20 Mayors Summit in New York on September 19–20, where mayors from major international cities discussed housing, climate resilience and migration.
From Rome and Kansas City, the new partnership adds another dimension to Italy–U.S. relations – connecting local governments and encouraging cities to learn directly from one another.
