Florence and the cultural inheritance of its religious heritage

GOAL OF THE PROJECT

In order to facilitate the appropriate protection of religious assets, the World Heritage Committee has requested the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, together with its related advisory bodies, to develop a thematic document of general orientation for the States Parties of the UNESCO, on the management of the cultural and natural heritage of religious interest. In launching the initiative, called Heritage of Religious Interest, UNESCO therefore plays a leading role in the development of general directives and since 2016 it has been coordinating a global cycle of thematic consultations and workshops, during which experts, stakeholders and representatives of religious communities meet in a spirit of dialogue, sharing and rapprochement of different cultures. In this context, the Historic Centre of Florence, World Heritage site, has a very large number of monumental complexes with individual buildings linked to the cultural heritage of religious interest. There is an evident need to carry out an in-depth analysis of how much this heritage is or may be fundamental for the understanding and interpretation of the Outstanding Universal Value of the Historic Centre of Florence, opening an intercultural front linked to the intangible dimension that belongs precisely to the heritage of religious interest.

The project therefore has the goal of promoting the sustainable development of the management of the monumental complexes of religious interest in the World Heritage site Historic Centre of Florence. The first appointment of the project was held at the complex of Santa Croce on 15 December 2017, on occasion of the 35th anniversary of the inclusion of the Historic Centre of Florence on the World Heritage List (December 17, 1982).

The meetings organized in 2019 and 2020 are part of the European project ATLAS World Heritage in the Atlantic Area.
For more information on the World Heritage Centre’s programme Heritage of Religious Interest: https://whc.unesco.org/en/religious-sacred-heritage/

EXPECTED RESULTS 

1. The establishing of concrete connections with the subjects involved and the identification of short, medium
   and long-term strategies for sustainable development of the heritage of religious interest; the same
   strategies must be defined within the Management Plan
2. The drafting of a summary report on the topics addressed that highlights the peculiarities emerged and helps
   identify examples of best practices for future comparisons with other national and international situations
3. The analysis, drawing up and dissemination of general plans and methodologies by the responsible
   institutions for optimising the management of the properties of religious interest in the Historic Centre

PAST MEETINGS

1st MEETING
Santa Croce Complex, 15th December 2017 – on the occasion of the XXXV anniversary of the inclusion of the Historic Centre of Florence in the World Heritage List (17th December 1982)
“For a sustainable development of the management of the monumental complexes of religious interest in the Historic Centre of Florence UNESCO World Heritage Site“.

2nd MEETING
Santa Maria Novella Complex, 18th December 2018
“Conservation between knowledge, management and communication“.

PREPARATORY FOCUS GROUP AND OPERATIONAL MEETING FOR THE 3RD MEETING
Santa Maria Novella Complex, 20th June and 19th September 2019
“Sustainable reuse and functional recovery of the heritage of religious interest”.

3rd MEETING
Jewish Community of Florence, 18th December 2019
“Hospitality in the processes of sustainable reuse and functional recovery of the heritage of religious interest”.

PREPARATORY FOCUS GROUP FOR THE 4th MEETING
Online conference, 16th September 2020

4th MEETING
Online conference,  28th January 2021
“Post COVID-19 strategies: cloisters as urban oases and heritage to reknit the memory”.