UNESCO has conferred two new international recognitions on Italy’s cultural landscape: Faenza and La Spezia have officially joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, which now comprises 408 cities across more than 100 countries. With these new designations, the number of Italian cities in the Network rises to sixteen, reaffirming Italy’s role as a global leader in culture and creativity.
The UNESCO Creative Cities Network brings together urban centres that place culture and creative industries at the core of their sustainable development strategies, fostering international cooperation and the exchange of best practices among communities.
“This is a prestigious recognition for Italian regions and their remarkable ability to innovate while drawing inspiration from tradition. Faenza and La Spezia are outstanding examples of how creativity and culture can serve as concrete drivers of growth and social cohesion,” stated the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani.
Established in 2004, the UNESCO Creative Cities Network promotes creativity as a catalyst for economic, social, cultural and environmental development.
Faenza, designated in the field of Crafts and Folk Art, is internationally renowned for its historic ceramic tradition. The city stands out for its commitment to cultural participation, its openness to international collaboration, and the resilience demonstrated in post-flood reconstruction, in line with the objectives of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
La Spezia, designated in the field of Design, is emerging as a hub of urban innovation, the blue economy and environmental sustainability, placing creativity at the service of the community and future generations.
Through these designations, Italy further strengthens its presence within the UNESCO Network and consolidates its image as a country of widespread creativity, where culture, craftsmanship and innovation intertwine to shape inclusive and sustainable models of development in dialogue with the world.
