On 20 January, the Italian Ambassador to Bahrain, Andrea Catalano, inaugurated the conference titled “Media and Culture in the field of archaeology”, organised in collaboration with the Shaikh Ebrahim Bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Centre for Culture and Research. The conference was delivered by Ms. Stella Falzone, Director of the National Archaeological Museum of Taranto (MArTA).
As part of the cultural promotion activities of the Italian Embassy in Bahrain and the Centre’s biannual cultural programme, the conference aimed to highlight Italy’s archaeological heritage, expertise in the restoration and enhancement of historical sites, and promote tourism to Italy’s regions.
Universally recognised as a “superpower of beauty and culture”, Italy holds a central role in archaeology at an international level. In 2024 alone, the Italian Foreign Ministry supported 287 Italian missions abroad through financial contributions or institutional endorsements. Italy’s leading role, Ambassador Catalano stated, derives not only from the unparalleled significance of its artistic, cultural, and natural heritage but also from its exceptional “human capital”. “I think, for example, of the approximately 70 Italian officials working at UNESCO, whose quality and dedication are universally acknowledged. Added to this is a vast network of experts – technicians, artisans, engineers, scholars, scientists, archaeologists, and restorers – who contribute their expertise in field interventions, technical dossier preparation, and training professionals in other countries. In the field of restoration, where Italy is globally renowned for its excellence, numerous projects for the recovery and restoration of archaeological and historical-artistic sites in disrepair have been carried out through UNESCO in the Mediterranean basin, Iraq, Afghanistan, Africa, and Southeast Asia”. “This refined and invaluable expertise, recognised worldwide”, Ambassador Catalano concluded, “is what we celebrate tonight and hope to use as an additional tool for bilateral cooperation”.
Ms. Falzone added: “The theme of enhancement lies at the heart of MArTA’s strategy. As one of the museums granted special autonomy by the Italian Ministry of Culture, our expertise in this field provides a valuable opportunity for dialogue. Italy’s long-standing tradition in cultural preservation and enhancement allows us to offer our knowledge to the international community.”
The event was attended by a distinguished audience, including the Founder and President of the Shaikh Ebrahim Bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Centre for Culture and Research, Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa; Professor Mounir Bouchenaki, Director of the Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage; alongside a substantial audience of academics, students, and experts in the field.
