The UNESCO Convention Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage has inscribed “The art of dry-stone walling” in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The transnational candidacy was presented by Italy together with Cyprus, Croatia, France, Greece, Slovenia, Spain and Switzerland.
The unanimous decision by the 24 States that compose the Committee, currently meeting in Port Louis, in the Republic of Mauritius, is further recognition of the leading role played by our Country within the UNESCO and of the positive and close cooperation that it has with its Mediterranean neighbours in the field of culture.
Up to now, Italy has inscribed eight elements in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, three of which are already rooted in the agri-food traditions and practices in the Mediterranean area (“the Art of Neapolitan Pizzaiuolo”, “the Mediterranean Diet” and “Head-trained bush vines in Pantelleria”), now enriched with the Art of Dry-Stone Walling.
This positive result was achieved thanks to the systemic approach taken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in close cooperation with Italy’s Permanent Representative to UNESCO, and with the invaluable technical collaboration from the experts of the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies and Tourism (MiPAAFT).
