Three Italian Nominations for UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage

Three new Italian nominations for UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage

Italy has put forward three dossiers for recognition as Intangible Cultural Heritage, highlighting practices that combine religious tradition, artisanal knowledge and agro-food customs rooted in local communities and landscapes.

The nominations

• The nativity scene: from origins to cultural tradition, and the art of making it — a project seeking recognition of the nativity scene as a cultural practice that blends artistic creativity, craftsmanship and popular devotion, involving associations and historic locations tied to the tradition's origins.
• The ritual of resting the grapes in Valpolicella — an agronomic and cultural practice linked to grape withering, essential for local wine production and reflecting the relationship between rural communities, landscape and traditional oenological knowledge.
• Alpine food heritage — a transnational initiative coordinated by Switzerland with participation from Italy, France and Slovenia, aimed at inscription in the Register of Best Safeguarding Practices, collecting food traditions and practices of Alpine communities.

Why these nominations matter

They aim to protect living knowledge and forms of territorial connection, supporting local communities, traditional crafts and typical productions. The dossiers also promote cooperation among public bodies, cultural associations, producers’ consortia and academic institutions.

Recognition process and what to expect

The path includes preparation of technical dossiers and review by national and international bodies, including verification steps and community consultations. The evaluation can be lengthy and involve several rounds of assessment.

Practical tip: follow official updates from the Ministry of Culture and local authorities involved for the latest information.

Location referenced in the nativity scene dossier

Historic contexts linked to the nativity tradition are part of the dossier; one locality mentioned in relation to the project is Assisi (06081, PG), a center with strong religious and artistic heritage.

Implications for the territory

UNESCO recognition can help preserve traditional knowledge, stimulate cultural and educational tourism initiatives and boost cross-border collaboration, particularly for the Alpine food heritage project.

Keywords: UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, nativity scene, Valpolicella, Alpine food heritage, Italian traditions, safeguarding practices.