Taranto's Holy Week: proposal launched to seek UNESCO recognition

Taranto's Holy Week: moving toward a UNESCO nomination

A motion has been submitted to the city council to begin the formal process that could lead to recognizing the Holy Week rituals of Taranto as UNESCO intangible cultural heritage. The proposal focuses on protecting and promoting a long-standing local tradition that blends religious devotion, artistic expression and collective memory.

Why seek UNESCO recognition

Proponents emphasize that international recognition is meant to be a tool for cultural protection rather than simple visibility. Key reasons include:

• Identity and continuity: the processions and rites reinforce a historical and emotional bond between the city and its residents.
• Intangible heritage qualities: ritual practices, the role of the brotherhoods and intergenerational transmission fit the criteria of intangible cultural heritage.
• Conservation and enhancement: the nomination process encourages concrete measures to preserve costumes, music, devotional objects and social practices.

Planned steps and stakeholders

The proposal outlines practical steps to start a structured safeguarding and promotion plan:

• Regional inventory entry: registering the rituals in the Region of Apulia’s Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage as an initial formal step.
• Involvement of historic brotherhoods: local confraternities are identified as the main custodians and essential partners.
• Building a Mediterranean network: engaging communities with similar traditions to develop a shared, representative nomination.
• Transmission initiatives: launching educational programs and activities targeting younger generations to ensure continuity.

Expected outcomes

The initiative aims to both safeguard a practice that is central to local identity and to enhance the cultural and social value of the tradition. Achieving UNESCO recognition would support the conservation of tangible and intangible elements of the Holy Week and increase international attention to the city’s cultural assets.

Next phases

In the coming months, collaboration between the municipal administration, brotherhoods and regional bodies is expected to formalize the inventory entry and define a nomination strategy. The process will require detailed historical and ethnographic documentation, broad community engagement and partnerships at local and transnational levels to support the candidature.