Bergamo and Brescia Joint Bid for Italian Capital of Culture 2023

Bergamo and Brescia, two Lombard cities deeply affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, have announced a joint bid to become the Italian Capital of Culture for 2023. The decision follows a shift in the national calendar due to the health emergency: Parma will serve as capital in 2021, and a city from the previous round will take 2022. The mayors of both cities, Emilio Del Bono (Brescia) and Giorgio Gori (Bergamo), presented the candidacy in a video press conference, framing it as a symbolic act of resilience and reconstruction. Del Bono stated that the cities, with their history and culture, can symbolize the country's recovery. Gori emphasized the severe damage to the cultural sector, citing canceled events like the Simone Peterzano exhibition and the delayed reopening of the Teatro Donizetti. The bid aims to give primacy to culture, heal community wounds, and restore confidence. The project has already secured a partnership with UBI Banca, a bank with deep roots in both cities, which will support cultural institutions. The selection process is expected to begin next year, with the winner announced in advance.