Synopsis of the conference on “Valorisation of Italian Cultural Heritage”

Synopsis of the “Valorizzazione dei Beni Culturali Italiani” conference [Valorisation of Italian Cultural Heritage] that took place on the 23rd of January, 2018, at Palazzo Montecitorio – Roma, seat of the Italian Parliament, and which saw the presentation of the “Emozione Italia” project. The conference was organised by the Hon. Stefano Dambruoso, whom we would like to thank for having invited us to take part.

We also thank the Hon. Dambruoso for having kindly arranged a guided tour of Palazzo Montecitorio for all conference attendees prior to the start of the conference.

During this tour of what is surely one of the most important places of political assembly in Italy we were particularly struck by the austere silence of the parliamentary hall, all work having been suspended following the dissolution of the Chambers. There was, however, still a certain amount of activity in the Transatlantic Hall, with its furnishings typical of early twentieth century ocean liners (added after major renovations and extensions by the architect Ernesto Basile, which left only Bernini’s original façade intact).

The conference, entitled “Valorizzazione dei Beni Culturali Italiani” , started at 3 p.m. The many attendees filled Sala Aldo Moro. In his opening speech (see photo below), the Hon. Dambruoso stressed the importance of Italy’s Cultural Heritage and how it has played a part in every period of the country’s history. For these reasons, it needs to be protected and valorised.

Conference – Chamber of Deputies – Rome 23.01.2018 – The Hon S. Dambruoso opens the conference
Dr. Maria Cristina Paoluzzi, art historian and university professor, then took the floor and pointed out how more efforts need to be made to raise awareness of Italy’s rich cultural and artistic heritage and to enhance Italy’s many cities of art and individual works of art, including those that are, perhaps, less well known, but not for this any less important.

Picking up from where Dr. Paoluzzi left off, the President of the “Emozione Italia” Association, Giuseppe Zambetti, went on to present the association’s programme: opportunities to turn into reality this desire to valorise Italian heritage, and not just its cultural heritage, but also its other riches: craftsmanship, food and wine, fashion and industry. This is achieved by welcoming visitors to Italian cities. He also explained how the “Emozione Italia” project foresees the creation of jobs, especially for young people, as represented by a number of young stakeholders in the first row (see photo below).

Conference – Chamber of Deputies – Rome 23.01.2018 – Audience in Sala Aldo Moro
After briefly opening the floor to questions, mainly from the young people present, the Hon. Dambruoso closed the conference with an invitation to visit the “Testimoni di Civiltà” exhibition [Witnesses of Civilization] in the adjacent Sala della Lupa. On show, important cultural works rescued from areas hit by earthquakes and recovered stolen goods, recovered in Italy and abroad by the Carabinieri Command for Cultural Heritage directed by General Fabrizio Parrulli.

This exhibition – inaugurated by the Hon. Dambruoso in the presence of the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Laura Boldrini (see photo below) – has already been much publicised, including an article in Il Corriere della Sera on the 23rd of January entitled “La mostra dei capolavori rubati” (Exhibition of Stolen Masterpieces). Free entry. Runs until 28/02/2018.

The conference ended with a round of applause for the organisers and expressions of pleasure and satisfaction that the “Emozione Italia” project had been given such important visibility.