The elderly condition is associated frequently to a partial or minor ability to be active part of own social context. Anyway, this widespread stereotyped is often contradicted by the reality; in fact, in several cases the elderly is a person curious about modern technology and foreign cultures, involved in the activities of associations and organized groups.This paper presents the principal results of a research promoted by the Social Work Coordination Office in the Council of Bologna. The project, named SAGE (Supporting Active aGeing in Europe), is born to promote the participation of people from five European cities (Bologna, Islington, Stravroupoli, Parität and Düsseldorf) in a range of local and transnational activities of social and cultural promotion