On 29 May 2026, the ministry of Culture of Italy hosted the First Plenary Assembly of the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe active in Italy in Rome, bringing together institutional representatives, Cultural Routes operators, experts and key stakeholders.

As the first national gathering of its kind, the Assembly aimed to strengthen coordination among institutions, local authorities and cultural networks involved in the Cultural Routes programme. The event provided a platform to exchange experiences, share good practices and discuss future development prospects, with a particular focus on governance and management, access to funding opportunities, and enhanced cooperation among Routes.

Key strategic objectives included the development of a national network of Cultural Routes, the promotion of shared cultural heritage, the enhancement of intercultural dialogue and support for sustainable tourism initiatives.

Discussions highlighted successful experiences from certified Cultural Routes and underlined the importance of sustainability, partnership development and coordinated action at national and European levels.

Italy is a member state of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe since 2011 and is currently crossed by 40 certified Cultural Routes.