Back Italy: Conference “Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe crossing Italy: a European heritage”

Italy:  Conference “Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe crossing Italy: a European heritage”

On 18th February, the Secretariat of the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe programme attended the International Conference “Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe crossing Italy: a European heritage”, organized by the Italian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in cooperation with the Council of Europe Office in Venice and the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe and the European Institute of Cultural Routes at the premises of the Ateneo Veneto (Venice, Italy).

The conference took place in the framework of the Italian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe (November 2021-May 2022), bringing together representatives of Cultural Routes crossing Italy, national and regional authorities, academics and the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe secretariat.

The opening ceremony was presided by Mr. Filippo Maria CARINCI (Vice President of the Ateneo Veneto), Ms. Luisella PAVAN-WOOLFE (Head of the Council of Europe office in Venice), Mr. Simone VENTURINI (Tourism Councillor, City of Venice), Mr. Roberto VALENTE (Secretary General, Veneto Regional Council), Cons. Amb. Mario BARTOLI (Head of the Council of Europe Office, Directorate General for Political and Security Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation), Ms. Giuliana DE FRANCESCO (Representative to the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe, Ministry of Culture, Italy) and Mr. Julien VUILLEUMIER (Chair of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe (EPA), Federal Office of Culture of Switzerland).

On the occasion of the conference, an EPA Career Award was delivered to Mrs. Gabriella BATTAINI-DRAGONI (Former Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe) for her valuable contribution and support to the Cultural Routes programme.

The morning session highlighted the role of the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe for the promotion and enhancement of European identity, memory and heritage, presented by Ambassador Jean-Claude KUGENER (President of the European Institute of Cultural Routes (EICR), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg). Various presentations from certified Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe representatives followed: Santiago de Compostela Pilgrim Routes, European Route of Jewish Heritage, Via Francigena, European Route of Industrial Heritage and Liberation Route Europe. The session was hosted by Mr. Stefano DOMINIONI (EPA Executive Secretary, EICR Director)

The afternoon sessions focused on “Culture, artistic practices and youth exchanges” and “Sustainable cultural tourism through the Council of Europe programmes”, featuring interventions of Prof. Pierluigi SACCO (Professor of Economics, University of Chieti-Pescara) and Ms. Maguelonne DEJEANT-PONS (Executive Secretary of the European Landscape Convention, Council of Europe). The sessions were hosted by Ms. Luisella PAVAN-WOOLFE and Ms. Roberta ALBEROTANZA (Member of the Task Force for the Italian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy) respectively.

These panel sessions also showcased some of the cultural routes’ experiences from recent years, presented by ATRIUM, Phoenicians’ Route, El Legado Andalusi, European Mozart Ways, European Route of Historic Gardens, Iter Vitis Route, European Route of Historic Thermal Towns, Aeneas Route and European Route of Ceramics.

At the end of the conference, participants were invited to visit the exhibition “Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe in Italy: a European heritage", consisting of panels with texts and images through which visitors can explore and retrace the Routes that cross Italy.

Italy is a member State of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe since 2011. There are currently 30 certified Cultural Routes crossing the country.

The full programme of the conference is available here as PDF.

18 february 2022
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