26/04/2020
Invitation to the virtual meeting via Zoom, on the theme
UNESCO historic cities, heritage of Peace
May 2, 2020 – 09.50 a.m.
In the 2012-2013 Rotary year, the members of the RC Urbino, inspired by the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, signed in 1972 by UNESCO member states and by the motto of the then President of Rotary International Sakuji Tanaka, which made explicit reference to build peace through service, they felt they had to organize the in Urbino the conference UNESCO historic cities, heritage of peace.
At the end of the conference, all the delegations present approved the Urbino Declaration, which commits the Rotary Clubs of UNESCO cities and historical centres “to be of real help above all personal interest, so that the historic urban landscapes are perpetuated withtoday’s sounds, colours and planning, so as to be an enjoyable reality for every woman and man in a future of peace.”
In April 2015 the second biennial Rotarian Conference was held in Istanbulon the themeSounds and colours of the historic cities. The aim of this conference was to strengthen the Rotarian commitment to intervene with constancy and determination for the conservation and enhancement of UNESCO historic centres and historic cities.
In 2017 Florence welcomed the third edition of the conference, with the theme Which lighting for historic cities. It was an opportunity to promote, with testimonials and proposals, a reflection and comparison for the correct use of artificial light, in relation to the characteristics of historic centres and monuments, also following the progressive introduction of LED technologies.
Synergies in architecture was the theme of the 2019 edition of the Conference, hosted in Zamość (Poland). An opportunity to discuss the topic of design in historic cities, between conservation and modernity, with the participation of architecture students from different European universities, who gathered in a series of workshops to study and plan restoration actions of a part of the city of Zamość.
The theme of the Conference that will take place between Pienza, San Gimignano and Siena, on 23/24/25 April 2021 will be the relationship between tourism and the world heritage cities, summarized exceptionally in the Sienese Constitution of 1309 with the phrase: “The cheerfulness of visitors cannot be divided by the dignity of the citizens.”
The theme is the synergistic work of three Rotary Clubs and must represent an important objective for all Italian clubs based in World Heritage urban properties, so that all UNESCO world heritage historic cities, but not only, can be brought together in a positive circuit, operating in favour of an improvement in urban quality and the development of a methodology for implementing development policies of world heritage historic cities.
To do this, it is important to consolidate the network of contacts between Italian and European Rotary Clubs and, above all, to find a moment of meeting to give substance to the common purposes developed in the previous Conferences.
The RC Urbino operates as permanent Secretariat of the UNESCO Historic Cities, Heritage of Peace Convention. The Secretariat, to which all Rotary Clubs can refer, is in support of the organization of the Pienza, San Gimignano, Siena Convention and of the future ones.
