MIRABILIA EUROPEAN NETWORK OF UNESCO SITES PROMOTION OF UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES, TERRITORIES AND TOURIST TOURS Under the Patronage of ENIT - National Tourism Agency by the Chambers of Commerce Archeological Area and the Patriarchal Basilica of Aquileia (UNESCO - World Heritage Site since 1998) Longobards in Italy. Places of the Power (568-774 A.D.) (UNESCO - World Heritage Site since 2011) The Friulian Dolomites (UNESCO - World Heritage Site since 2009) Venetian Defense Works dating back to a period between the 15th and the 17th centuries (UNESCO nomination 2011) City of Vicenza and the Palladian Villas of the Veneto (UNESCO - World Heritage Site since 1994) UDINE VICENZA Le Strade Nuove and the system of the Palazzi dei Rolli (UNESCO - World Heritage Site since 2006) Assisi, the Basilica of San Francesco GENOVA and Other Franciscan Sites (UNESCO - World Heritage Site since 2000) Longobards in Italy. Places of the Power (568-774 A.D.) (UNESCO - LA SPEZIA World Heritage Site since 2011) Regional Natural Park of Portovenere PERUGIA (UNESCO - World Heritage Site since 2011) National Park of Cinque Terre (UNESCO - La Perdonanza Celestiniana World Heritage Site since 2011) (Celestinian Forgiveness) (UNESCO nomination 2012) L'AQUILA The port of Brindisi as monument and culture of peace messenger site (UNESCO recognition 2010) Murgia dei Trulli and Itria Valley (UNESCO nomination 2013) BRINDISI SALERNO Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park with MATERA the Archeological Sites of Paestum and Velia, and the Certosa di Padula (UNESCO - The Sassi and the Park of the Rupestrian World Heritage Site since 1998) Churches of Matera (UNESCO - World Heritage Site since 1993) Costiera Amalfitana (Amalfi Coast) (UNESCO - World Heritage Site since 1997) MIRABILIA - European Network of UNESCO Sites Promotion of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, territories and tourist tours By the Chambers of Commerce of: Brindisi, Genoa, L'Aquila, La Spezia, Matera, Perugia, Salerno, Udine and the Comsortium Vicenza è. As anyone knows, Italy is called “the land of the thousands bell towers”. THE PROJECT MIRABILIA Let’s stop thinking for a while about the negative sense of this sentence, referring to the fact that Italy is a difficult country to Mirabilia - European Network of Astonishment and wonder: this is what you rule, and focus instead on its positive UNESCO Sites connects for the first time all instinctively feel while visiting the sites and meaning: the so-called Belpaese (Beautiful the areas associated by an historical, places suggested by this project. Country) has an ancient history, a variety of cultural and environmental importance. It There is a Latin word recalling this idea of landscapes - both natural and aims to foster interaction among institutio- astonishment: Mirabilia, which literally human-modified - a unique richness of nal and economic stakeholders and among means the wonders. traditions; in fact it boasts the greatest different governance models supporting number (47) of UNESCO - World Heritage different territorial development policies. The Mirabilia Urbis Romae, typical Sites. example of travel writing (that Sponsored by the Chambers of Commerce historiographical current, which was On the basis of the above considerations, the of Brindisi, Genoa, L'Aquila, La Chambers of Commerce - representing in common especially in the Hellenistic Age Italy a diffused network with the same Spezia, Matera, Perugia, Salerno, Udine and and which gathered historical information efficiency standards from the Alps to Sicily - the Consortium Vicenza è, this project aims about people and places, related to a decided to try to create a network of to build a network of UNESCO - World geographical itinerary and verified through UNESCO - World Heritage Sites, excluding Heritage Sites, excluding the universally the direct experience of other travelers), the universally known ones, in order to known ones, in order to promote them corresponded to our modern guide-books; promote them among Italian and foreign among Italian and foreign tourists. they were used by travelers who went to tourists in a coordinated and structured way. It is a tourist offer which presents Italy in a Rome, guiding them all along the path. It was a difficult task; in the first place different way, excluding the well-known And this is exactly the aim of Mirabilia - because tourism is a business in which destinations which attract mass tourism. It European Network of UNESCO Sites. destinations are used to compete instead of is a custom-made people-oriented tourist cooperating; in the second place, because a offer, where tourist reception and care are lot of Italian UNESCO - World Heritage Sites essential. show very different degrees of attraction, organization and package holidays; in the At the same time, the variety and richness third place, because it is always hard to put of the offer (historical-artistic heritage, an end to the so-called “parochialism”, in cultural heritage, environmental assets and especially in Italy. landscapes) enable to create the perfect But finally unity was strength and the package holidays for many potential network of the Chambers of Commerce tourists. worked. MIRABILIA - EUROPEAN NETWORK OF UNESCO SITES | 02-03 01 07 05 08 06 02 BRINDISI THE PORT OF BRINDISI AS MONUMENT AND CULTURE OF PEACE MESSENGER SITE (UNESCO RECOGNITION 2010) MURGIA DEI TRULLI AND ITRIA VALLEY (UNESCO NOMINATION 2013) At the time of the Roman Empire, Brindisi was considered the most important port to reach SURROUNDINGS Greece and the East. This is proved by the existence of the Appian Way, which connects The Natural reserve of Torre Guaceto, Ostuni Rome to Brindisi, ending in front of the port, (the White Town), the Park of the coastal close to the Roman Columns and the Virgil’s dunes, Itria Valley, Ceglie Messapica, 03 Staircase. UNESCO recognized the port of Savelletri di Fasano, San Vito dei Normanni. Brindisi as monument and culture of peace messenger site on the 29th of January 2010. Brindisi has always played an important role MAIN CONNECTIONS as meeting place between the East and the West; its port has always been considered a Salento airport (Brindisi, Casale), Bari airport, safe harbor for travelers and a point of Port of Costa morena, Brindisi (daily departure for further journeys. And in fact the connections with Greece and Albania), Port historical, artistic and human heritage of the of Bari. city has always highlighted its vocation as peaceful and welcoming place. Itria Valley is a portion of the territory, an 01. Brindisi, the Port Promenade. extended hill characterized by the sequence 02. The Cathedral of Brindisi. 04 of depressions, hillocks and gentle undulating 03. Cisternino. karst roads; it is the heart of the area called 04. Glimpse of Itria Valley with Trulli. Murgia dei Trulli. 05. Design detail. This is the Trulli valley par excellence, the area 06. Centuries-old olive tree in Carovigno. with the highest concentration of Trulli 07. Roofs of a group of trulli. scattered everywhere: an enchanting scenery, a unique and imaginative landscape. 08. Panoramic view of Ostuni, the White Town. Trulli are ancient and mysterious drywall For more information: constructions, typical of the region of Puglia. PROMOBRINDISI They were originally thought as temporary Special Agency of the Chamber of Commerce of Brindisi shelters for shepherds and depots for Tel: +39 0831 562994 agricultural equipment, but later they were Email: [email protected] Web: www.promobrindisi.com transformed into permanent dwellings by farmers and elected architectural symbol of the “rural civilization” by scholars. Today, they are used above all as holiday houses and tourist accommodation: silent and peaceful places but at the same time not so far from the ancient villages animated by cultural events. MIRABILIA - EUROPEAN NETWORK OF UNESCO SITES | 04-05 01 02 05 07 06 09 08 03 GENOA LE STRADE NUOVE AND THE SYSTEM OF PALAZZI DEI ROLLI (UNESCO - WORLD HERITAGE SITE SINCE 2006) Genoa has recently rediscovered its tourist vocation, which has roots in a distant past: SURROUNDINGS from the Middle Ages and the 16th century - el siglo de oro - to the 20th century. It was a The eastern part of Ligurian Riviera is step-by-step rediscovery: from the Expo in characterized by fascinating villages, such as 1992, with the reclamation of Porto Antico area Portofino, S. Margherita Ligure, Rapallo, Camogli, Sestri Levante and Chiavari, and and of the Aquarium; to the G8 Summit in enchanting places, such as Paradiso and 2001 and Genoa - European Capital of Culture Tigullio Gulfs and the Promontory of Portofino. in 2004; and to the inscription on the Unesco - Just behind the city and the Riviera, the Parks of World Heritage List of 42 out of 150 existing Antola, Aveto and Beigua. Genoese “Rolli” in 2006. Since the Middle-Ages, the aristocratic families of merchants and sailors used to settle in MAIN CONNECTIONS Genoa’s ancient downtown, living in lots which were strictly controlled by the families Cristoforo Colombo International Airport. themselves. In the 16th century, those families Motorways: A12 along the eastern Riviera decided to build new streets and palaces, and towards Livorno, A10 along the western Riviera towards France, connected to the they created that extraordinary urban heritage routes Genoa-Milan (A7) and Turin-Aosta (A known as Strada Nuova: an elite district 26, motorway “of the Tunnels”). characterized by a modern public allotment Railway connections with La Spezia, Imperia, system and a series of houses aligned along a Milan and Turin. Ferry-boats to Sardinia, Sicily, 250 meters long straight stretch of street. The Spain, Morocco. houses became real “republican palaces” where rich Genoese merchants, bankers and financial experts hosted emperors, kings and 01. Tobia Pallavicino Palace, Chamber of commerce, Via ambassadors. Garibaldi 4, Golden Room. Therefore, an original system developed, which 02. Palazzo Rosso (Red Palace), the Strada Nuova Museums, via Garibaldi 11, detail of the Room of Autumn’s vault we would call today “chateaux relais”, to host frescoes.