Bologna police officers take art history lessons to become cicerones

The municipal police of Bologna are undergoing art history training to better assist tourists. The initiative, led by the current administration of Mayor Matteo Lepore, expands on a 2015 program that provided officers with a manual on the city's history. Now, 132 newly recruited officers are attending four three-hour lessons covering the importance of cultural heritage in Italy, a history of Bologna from its origins to modern urban planning, and key monuments. The courses are taught by historian Giancarlo Benevolo and art historians Paolo Cova and Ilaria Negretti, in collaboration with the Civic Museums. The program is likely to be extended to all officers. Commander Romano Mignani emphasizes the dual role of safety and hospitality, noting that many new officers come from other cities and lack local knowledge. Similar initiatives were previously implemented in Venice in 2011 and in Brescia, which trained 17 new officers as ambassadors for its 2023 Italian Capital of Culture year.