It’s scheduled Saturday 18 May the ceremony of unveiling of the first UNESCO plaquesymbol of the recognition of the Portici of Bologna as World Heritage, which will be placed in Piazza Maggiore on the stretch of porticoes of Palazzo d’Accursio in the presence of Jyoti Hosagrahar, deputy director of the UNESCO World Heritage Center. This is the completion of the path that saw the assignment of recognition in 2021 to a unique heritage in the world, the most characteristic and fascinating element of Bologna: a recognition that brings with it, together with prestige, the responsibility for maintaining the assets , a process that involves institutions and citizens together, in particular the younger ones who are entrusted with the commitment for the future.
the conference Heritage Meets the Future
It is dedicated to reflection on the care of public heritage Heritage Meets the Futurean international conference scheduled for May 17th and 18th and launch of the second edition of the Bologna Portici Festival, which will be held from 4 to 9 June.
The two-day event aims to bring together scholars, researchers and representatives of institutions to identify shared solutions for the protection of a living asset, crossed daily by citizens, to be protected and safeguarded as a symbol of the city, together with the Towers.
Perception, use and care of the historical urban heritage: Bologna and its porticoes is the title of the scheduled day Friday 17 May at Cinema Modernissimo in Piazza Re Enzo, which will see alternating interventions by teachers, scholars and researchers, followed by a round table discussion between Ambassador Liborio Stellino, Permanent Representative for Italy at UNESCO, in dialogue with Youth for UNESCO and the doctoral students of the Architecture Course at the University of Bologna who will propose their innovative solutions for the protection and enhancement of the urban heritage. The day will close with the screening of the short film Guide to walking in the shadea 1954 documentary by Renzo Renzi, a poetic tale of the Bolognese porticoes with the narrative voice of Sergio Zavoli.
Saturday 18 May there Salaborsa library host Global challenges, shared solutions which will bring together the UNESCO site managers of some of the most important European cities awarded the recognition of World Heritage Sites, for an all-round discussion on the challenges of protection in different contexts: Bordeaux, Nice, Amsterdam, Krakow and Odessa, which from 2022 together with the drama of conflict and human losses, it also experiences the urgency of preserving its urban heritage from destruction. The debate continues with the point of view of the institutions, in the round table which will bring together the UNESCO deputy director Jyoti Hosagrahar, Marianne Knutsenmember of the Board of the International Council on Monuments and Sites, Maria Chiara Espositoresponsible for Cultural Policies of the European Commission, Directorate General for Education and Culture e Adele Cesi, contact person for the National Focal Point of the World Heritage Convention at the Ministry of Culture. The conclusions are entrusted to Helle Søholt of Studio Gehl in Copenhagen, today recognized as one of the most important architectural-urban design and research studios in the world: his speech will focus on the importance of a “person-centric” approach to the valorisation and care of urban heritage, which starting from the analysis of data on movements, behaviors and needs of people in the city space is able to implement the quality – environmental, social, relational – of public spaces.
At the end, the unveiling of the plaque in Piazza Maggiore, a moment that will be enriched by the performance of the boys’ and girls’ choir of the Bernstein School of Music Theater who will perform the Hymn of the Portici, and by Marinella Manicardi’s monologue, an original text composed by actress for the occasion.
Preview Bologna Portici Festival, the events in the city over the two days
One on the billboard Morandiana walk which from Casa Morandi will reach Grizzana, the birthplace of the great Bolognese artist, and the theatrical text dedicated to the partnership between Morandi and Giuseppe Raimondi, scheduled in the same Casa Morandi in via Fondazza. And again the recitals of opera arias in the foyer of the Teatro Comunale in Piazza Verdi, the concerts at the GB Martini Conservatory, the workshops dedicated to the little ones at the Museum of Palazzo Poggi, and the speaker corner in Piazza Raviola with the “pulpit” of Flavio Favelli which will also be open to children. As part of the European Night of Museums, numerous guided evening tours will also be available to the public. Special appointment on Saturday 18th at the International Music Museum and Library with Gino Castaldo and his musical narration The sky was burning with stars: a rich program awaiting the second edition of the Bologna Portici Festival, the great urban festival with which the Municipality celebrates the UNESCO recognition. Four districts, from the center to the outskirts, which from 4 to 9 June will be transformed into as many widespread stages hosting music, performances, meetings and shows. The entire program will be available on bolognaporticifestival.it.
The new website
The new website www.comune.bologna.it/portici-patrimonio-mondiale/ dedicated to the Portici is online and will become the reference point for cultural diffusion on historical heritage themes. It is aimed at all those who wish to learn about the Portici of Bologna and the activities that the Municipality and the other members of the Control Room propose in terms of management, conservation and valorization. They will then find each other informative content And thematic maps for citizens and tourists, together with insights with constantly updated information based on accredited and recent studies useful for those who want to know more also for study purposes.
The site will also be the interface for dialogue with international institutions, starting with UNESCO and therefore will be completely bilingual (Italian and English), the main information will also be available in French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Chinese and Japanese.
Also to ensure maximum accessibility a collaboration was started with the Francesco Cavazza Institute for the Blind and the National Deaf Body, which supported the editorial team in the search for the best solutions to facilitate consultation for people with visual and hearing disabilities. The entire site will be readable by the main aid systems for blind and visually impaired people, films will be available in LIS and IS for deaf people.
The site was created with funding of 105 thousand euros from the Ministry of Tourism dedicated to UNESCO sites and creative cities.
The Portici app
The Portici app is also already operational and allows you to map interventions to combat graphic vandalism. The app can be used exclusively by the municipal administration, specialized companies and citizen associations that have signed Collaboration Agreements.
The app allows you to:
- map the interventions carried out, in progress and planned;
- acquire data on treated surfaces and intervention methods;
- coordinate the activities of the associations.
The app allows the collection of useful information to operate correctly and quickly in the case of any subsequent interventions on the same property. Every single intervention contributes to building a database.
For each intervention a form is created divided into different sections:
- location of the intervention: the location is georeferenced on the map automatically, when you are on site, even simply by taking a photo;
- data on the elements that make up the portico: selection of the contaminated element (column, pillar, wall, etc.) in order to precisely identify the extent of the damage;
- collaboration agreements: reporting of associations or initiatives possibly active in the area for future involvement.
Before, during and after the intervention, the operator can fill in the form which stores important information, including technical information:
- the type of support of the smeared element (plaster, exposed brick, stone) and its possible color (to be encoded with a unique code);
- the soiling material (spray can, paint, marker);
- the presence or absence of protective agents already applied;
- any restrictions on the property and other specifications.
For all interventions, the person who is taking care of them is specified.
The app also supports areal-time photographic analysiswhich will be able to suggest to the user the type of damage detected, using a “machine-learning” engine that learns with each subsequent use.
The app was financed with 146 thousand euros by the Ministry of Culture thanks to the funds of law 77/2006 dedicated to the management of world heritage sites.
