Marche's Historic Theaters Nominated for UNESCO World Heritage Status

Andrea Bruciati, director of two UNESCO sites (Villa Adriana and Villa d'Este in Tivoli) and a native of the Marche region, has spearheaded the nomination of the historic theaters of the Marche for UNESCO World Heritage listing. The candidacy was presented in collaboration with the UNESCO office, the regional administration, and the mayors of 68 municipalities. The proposal is unique for its dual material and immaterial heritage nature, encompassing a network of theaters that are morphologically and territorially homogeneous. The dossier builds on restoration and cataloging work begun in the early 2000s by the region. Bruciati emphasizes that these theaters are not just architectural or historical-artistic projects but serve as symbolic self-representations of their cities and anthropological mirrors of communities. He sees the nomination as a model for post-pandemic cultural tourism, highlighting the participatory, democratic nature of theater and its potential as a year-round cultural driver. The proximity of Pesaro as Italian Capital of Culture 2024 and UNESCO Creative City of Music could also boost the candidacy.