25th Anniversary

On December 17th in 1982, the Historic Centre of Florence was put on the World Heritage List of UNESCO, justifying it with the following motivations:
“this outstanding cultural value should have been inscribed in the first World Heritage List for good reason, and any justification would, therefore, have been inappropriate and superfluous. ICOMOS underlined the fact that the historic centre of Florence met every criterion laid down by the Convention”. The Historic Centre of Florence was defined by ICOMOS as “ a unique artistic achievement, a masterpiece, the outcome of the continual work of creation over six centuries” (Criterion i), able to exert “a predominant influence on the development of architecture or monumental arts, first in Italy and then in Europe” (Criterion ii), with its streets still preserved intact, fortified palaces (…), loggias, fountains, a marvellous bridge from the fourteenth century”, (Criterion iii), which attained “economic and political power in Europe between the 14th and 17th centuries” (Criterion iv) and was involved “in events of international importance. In the sphere of the Neo-Platonic Academy, it developed the concept of the Renaissance” (Criterion vi).

After 25 years Florence still attracts scholars, visitors and tourists that rediscover every day its exceptional value even though the city, over the years, has evolved in its appearance, its contents, and the picture it gives from itself. The occasion of this anniversary provides the opportunity to reflect on the Historic Centre, the problems that have to be faced every day, the relationship with the environment, with new technologies and "modernity" in all its various expressions. The Municipality of Florence, in collaboration with the principal public and private institutions, is preparing a program of initiatives that is supposed to encounter these topics which will include contributions of national and international experts. The events, still in the organizational phase, will take place in autumn 2007 close to the date of inscription of Florenz in the List; they will constitute a moment of beneficial reflection for the city, not only on the definition of the actual situation but also on the identification of topics and hypotheses for the future. Naturally, it will be accompanied by celebrations that are supposed to emphasize the exceptional value of the city of Florence and to remind inhabitants as well as visitors and tourists that this city, extraordinary and multifaceted, entered by right in the UNESCO List as it represents a testimony of history, of thought, of art and culture known all over the world, to the extent that, if its integrity should be damaged, the whole world would be deprived of this unique value.