Appian Way: Brothers of Italy on Matera and the UNESCO site

Appian Way: Brothers of Italy on Matera and the UNESCO site

Debate has grown around the omission of the Matera section of the Appian Way from the UNESCO listing. The Brothers of Italy council group in Matera published a statement summarising events, assigning political responsibility and explaining the technical measures undertaken by the municipality and the State to seek reintegration.

What happened

The statement reports that the Matera section was excluded from the initial UNESCO perimeter under the previous municipal administration. The Italian State later submitted a formal request for reinsertion via the technical procedure called Minor Boundary Modification, but UNESCO rejected the proposal without opening further dialogue.

Key dates and steps

• August–October 2024: notification of the exclusion of Matera stretches from the UNESCO nomination;
• January 2025: the State formally files a reinsertion request through the Minor Boundary Modification procedure;
• 16 June 2025: the new Mayor meets the Minister to prioritise Matera’s reintegration into the Appian Way UNESCO site;
• Follow-up: the UNESCO rejection of the modification request leaves no room for further formal negotiations at that stage.

Political vs technical issues

The council group highlights the difference between political responsibility and technical procedures: while other municipalities initially excluded succeeded in re-entering after providing strengthened documentation, Matera’s case points to shortcomings in the documentation and administrative response in the period when the exclusion decision was made.

Planned actions by the administration

The statement says the new administration will continue with a technical, institutional approach—avoiding propaganda—to:

• collect and complete the necessary technical documentation;
• coordinate with the Ministry and competent bodies to explore protection and promotion measures;
• engage with local communities and cultural stakeholders to support the candidacy.

How to follow developments

To stay informed about official initiatives related to the UNESCO candidacy and the protection of the Matera section of the Appian Way, consult the municipal channels of the City of Matera and the relevant Ministry, where official acts, resolutions and technical communications are published.

Further advice: monitor calls, agreements and technical dossiers regarding perimeter modification and the UNESCO nomination process for the Appian Way.