Description
With reference to the various Unesco programmes, given the presence of a number of recognised sites and elements and their respective promoters or managers in Trentino, the Autonomous Province of Trento has identified the opportunity to foster a space for comparison and reflection, for the exchange and reflection on individual experiences, the development of common strategies, and the possible development of shared projects.
The Provincial Council resolution no. 1060/2023 therefore established the Coordination of the sites and elements subject to Unesco recognition in the Province of Trento with a view to efficient collaboration within the provincial administration and synergy with the various bodies and institutions involved, in dialogue with the competent institutions at national and international level.
The co-ordination, chaired by the Councillor responsible for the "Dolomites UNESCO Heritage" project or, by delegation, by the General Manager of the Department of Merit, is attended by the representatives of the subjects in charge of the management of the sites and elements, falling within the Province of Trento, recognised within UNESCO programmes. This coordination may be supplemented by the participation of proponents of recognition applications within the framework of Unesco programmes, which affect the provincial territory.
The Sustainable Development and Protected Areas Service carries out the secretarial activities of this coordination in collaboration with tsm's Land and Landscape School.
UNESCO Acknowledgements in Trentino
The extraordinary natural and cultural heritage of the province of Trento, which bears witness to the deep connection between man and the environment, is also recognised internationally. Various initiatives are promoted within the framework of UNESCO - the United Nations Educational, Scientific, Cultural, Communication and Information Organisation.
Four sites are inscribed on the World Heritage lists: the Dolomites, a Natural World Heritage Site; the Prehistoric Pile-Dwelling Sites of the Alpine Arc; the Geopark Parco Adamello Brenta; and the Biosphere Reserve Alpi Ledrensi e Judicaria - from the Dolomites to Garda.
These are joined by other important initiatives: theArt of dry stone walls and Mountaineering, both Intangible Heritage; the Engineering for Human and Sustainable Development Chair and the Chair on Anticipatory Systems at the University of Trento; La Terrazza delle Stelle, a UNESCO site 'connected to the sky'; the partnership with the World Network of Water Museums; and the UNESCO Club of Trento.
Some of these recognitions are shared with other regions or countries: the Dolomites, for example, with the Autonomous Province of Bolzano, Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia; while the Pile-Dwelling Sites are part of a network of similar monuments in various areas of northern Italy and Europe. Mountaineering and dry stone wall art are also internationally shared heritages.
Taken together, these initiatives express Trentino's commitment to protecting and enhancing a heritage that integrates nature, culture and knowledge, in a harmonious balance between continuity and sustainability.
In order to support the numerous initiatives in the territory and to foster the exchange and development of shared projects, the Autonomous Province of Trento has set up the Coordination of UNESCO-recognised sites and elements.
The UNESCO Value in Trentino: survey on the perception of UNESCO awards
The survey on the perceived value of UNESCO awards aims to go beyond a reading centred on individual sites or awards, adopting a systemic perspective. The objective is to understand how the different designations are perceived by the different publics (whether as separate entities or as components of a unified system), and to what extent they contribute in an integrated manner to the enhancement of the natural, cultural and social heritage of the provincial territory.
23/04/2026