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UNESCO Recognitions in Trentino

The extraordinary natural and cultural heritage of the province of Trento, which bears witness to the deep bond between humankind and the environment, is also recognised internationally. A number of initiatives have been promoted under the auspices of UNESCO — the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.

Four sites are inscribed on the World Heritage List: the Dolomites, a Natural World Heritage Site; the Prehistoric Pile-Dwelling Sites in the Alpine Arc; the Adamello Brenta Geopark; and the Alpi Ledrensi and Judicaria Biosphere Reserve – from the Dolomites to Lake Garda.

These are complemented by other important initiatives:the Art of Dry-Stone Walling and Mountaineering, both recognised as Intangible Cultural Heritage; the Chair in Engineering for Human and Sustainable Development 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 designations are shared with other regions or countries: the Dolomites, for example, are shared with the Autonomous Province of Bolzano, the Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia; whilst the pile-dwelling sites form part of a network of similar monuments found in various areas of northern Italy and Europe. Mountaineering and the art of dry-stone walling are also heritage elements shared at an international level.

Taken together, these initiatives reflect the Trentino region’s commitment to the protection and promotion of a heritage that integrates nature, culture and knowledge, striking a harmonious balance between continuity and sustainability.
To support the numerous initiatives across the region and to encourage the exchange and development of joint projects, the Autonomous Province of Trento has established the Coordination Committee for UNESCO-recognised sites and elements.

World Heritage Dolomites

World Heritage Dolomites

On 26 June 2009, in Seville, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee recognised the Dolomites as a World Heritage Site for their aesthetic and landscape value as well as for their scientific importance in terms of geology and geomorphology, recognising them as 'among the most beautiful mountain landscapes in the world'.

Publication date:Friday 04 April 2025

Prehistoric pile-dwelling sites in the Alps

Prehistoric pile-dwelling sites in the Alps

Among almost a thousand pile-dwelling sites discovered in the Alps, 111 have been chosen to be a Unesco Site, and among them are the Trentino sites of Ledro and Fiavè. Exceptional conservation conditions have transformed the pile dwellings into enormous archives of data on our past.

Publication date:Friday 04 April 2025

Adamello Brenta - Geopark

Adamello Brenta - Geopark

An extraordinary territory where two geological worlds, the Brenta Dolomites and the Adamello-Presanella group, face each other and where every type of existing rock is represented: sedimentary, metamorphic and magmatic rocks. The Adamello Brenta Nature Park (620.51 square kilometres) is the largest protected area in Trentino.

Publication date:Friday 04 April 2025

Alpi Ledrensi and Judicaria Biosphere Reserve from the Dolomites to Lake Garda

Alpi Ledrensi and Judicaria Biosphere Reserve from the Dolomites to Lake Garda

The territory of the Ledrensi Alps and the Giudicarie esteriori, which stretches between two jewels of Trentino, Lake Garda and the Brenta Dolomites (more than 3100 m of altitude difference concentrated in less than 30 km as the crow flies, in an environment rich in biodiversity and history) was awarded UNESCO Biosphere status in 2015 Alpi Ledrensi e Judicaria

Publication date:Friday 04 April 2025

Chair Engineering for Human and Sustainable Development

In 2011, the UNESCO Chair in 'Engineering for Human and Sustainable Development' was established at the University of Trento.

Publication date:Friday 04 April 2025

Dry stone wall art

Dry stone wall art

The art of dry stone walling, i.e. the knowledge and skill of building dry stone artefacts, common to eight European countries, was inscribed as a construction technique in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2018. This "art" consists in building by placing stones one on top of the other, without using any other materials except, in some cases, dry earth.

Publication date:Friday 04 April 2025

The Terrace of Stars, a 'UNESCO site connected to the sky'

The Terrace of Stars, a 'UNESCO site connected to the sky'

The Terrace of Stars - at an altitude of about 1,500 metres on Monte Bondone (TN) - is a place that is well suited for observing the sky, thanks to its limited light pollution and clear, smog-free air. Here, every year since 2001, the Muse (Science Museum) with its local branch offers astronomical observation experiences to thousands of people who want to admire the sky and learn about its characteristics and secrets.

Publication date:Friday 04 April 2025

UNESCO World Network of Water Museums

UNESCO World Network of Water Museums

Since 2023 the Autonomous Province of Trento has been an institutional partner of the "UNESCO Global Network of Water Museums" (acronym WAMU-NET). The network was born as a flagship initiative of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme, has its own seat in Trentino and includes about 60 museums and institutions from 30 different countries.

Publication date:Friday 04 April 2025

Unesco Club of Trento

Unesco Club of Trento

On 23 October 2012, the Italian Federation of Unesco Clubs based in Florence approved the Trento Unesco Club, the first Unesco Club in the Autonomous Province of Trento and the Trentino Alto Adige Region.

Publication date:Friday 04 April 2025

Highlights

Insights

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.

Further details
Events

6th Meeting of Italian Biosphere Reserves

14 - 17 October 2025

The Alpi Ledrensi e Judicaria Biosphere Reserve hosts the national event dedicated to the UNESCO Biosphere Reserves, an opportunity for discussion and exchange between institutions, local communities, researchers and young protagonists of sustainable development.

Further details
Events

Unesco Dolomites: 4th edition of the course for administrators

3 - 4 October 2025

The fourth edition of the course for administrators of municipalities affected by UNESCO recognition and involved in the management of the asset, will take place this year in Friuli Venezia Giulia between Claut and Cimolais, at the gateway to the Friulian Dolomites Natural Park.

Further details

Governance

Provincial Coordination of UNESCO Designations

There are many sites and features in Trentino that have been recognised by UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation. These range from the Dolomite massifs forming part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site ‘The Dolomites’ to a university chair included in the UNESCO Chairs Programme. The Provincial Executive has approved the establishment of a coordinating body to promote effective collaboration between the various departments of the Provincial Administration and greater synergy between the Province and the various bodies and institutions involved, in consultation with the relevant national and international institutions.

Publication date:

01/10/2024

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