The UNESCO values of archaeological sites as a driving force for the development of cultural tourism and, more generally, as a support for the territories towards their growth and as a possibility of boosting employment, especially for young people.

The message was launched by the first day dedicated to the Cultural Tourism Expo in Sardinia , which took place today in Barumini, on the initiative of the Barumini Sistema Cultura Foundation in collaboration with the municipal administration.

The appointment, now in its eighth edition and broadcast live on the web channels of L'Unione Sarda, is bringing together in the town of Marmilla, once again, all the 30 cultural sites managed at a regional level, operators in the tourism sector, artistic and food and wine craftsmanship with the presence of over 22 exhibition stands of Sardinian excellence. But, again, the event is allowing the exchange between supply and demand in the sector thanks to the meetings between the 15 national and international tour operators present and over 100 companies in the tourist and cultural sector of Sardinia.

25 YEARS UNESCO - Trait d'union of the entire event the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the recognition of the site of "Su Nuraxi di Barumini" in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Just Barumini increasingly stands as a model of good management practices of a site recognized as a World Heritage Site in Sardinia and, thanks to the collaboration of important associations and institutional bodies, is giving new opportunities to create a network that can foster new growth opportunities tourist and economic. Precisely for the occasion, the round tables organized during the first day made it possible to deepen the themes on the management of Unesco sites thanks also to the participation of the association La Sardegna Verso l'Unesco, with which the Barumini Foundation is pursuing an effective strategy of collaboration.

BARUMINI - «The Unesco recognition of the Su Nuraxi site constantly commits us to a rigorous protection action of the monument and requires us to activate services with high quality standards for the use of the site but it pays us back more and more in terms of enhancement with a growing trend of visitors in huge expansion - underlines the president of the Barumini culture system foundation, Emanuele Lilliu at the opening of the works - if today our site carves out a primary role in Sardinia in terms of enhancing the cultural heritage, we must always thank the important work of Professor Giovanni Lilliu».

In his greeting to the guests of the day, the mayor of Barumini, Michele Zucca added: "The enhancement of the Unesco site Su Nuraxi has made it possible to reactivate human resources already present on site and to attract new entrepreneurial initiatives".

The Foundation's greeting was also brought by the members of the Board of Directors Gianluca Lioni, who underlined the importance of effective communication in the cultural sphere for the growth of cultural sites and places. Caterina Lilliu, member of the Board of Directors of the Foundation reiterated the importance of collaborations with the University of Cagliari in the excavation works and those of the Superintendency for the recovery of the finds from the Su Nuraxi site.

Tonino Chironi, secretary general of the Foundation underlined how the success of the Expo comes thanks to the work of the Foundation which is achieving important objectives of innovation and competitiveness in creating a tourist demand that promotes inland areas. Lastly, for Salvatore Bellisai, member of the Foundation's Board of Directors, the collegiality of the Foundation's actions are making it possible to achieve important objectives of cultural enhancement and employment in the area.

SYNERGIES – During the day the importance of synergies was highlighted for the creation of paths to enhance the territories. This path includes the work of the Foundation with the Regional Directorate of Museums of Sardinia, represented at the appointment by Luana Toniolo and with the Archaeological Superintendence of Fine Arts and Landscape for the Metropolitan City of Cagliari and the provinces of Oristano and Southern Sardinia, with the participation of the superintendent Monica Stochino and Gianfranca Salis (responsible for the territory). The presence of the Fondazione di Sardegna was important, represented at the works by Marianna Orrù, who supports Expo and the Foundation and the Association Sardinia Towards Unesco. The presence of national and international guests who recounted their experiences was important. Among these Macarena Bustamante, from the Department of Archeology of Granada (Spain) for the territory of Merida (site included in the Unesco list) and Francesco Sirano, director of the Archaeological Park of Herculaneum, another Unesco site. Among the speeches also those of Paolo Giulierini, director of the Archaeological Museum of Naples (with which Barumini has an ongoing synergy) and the heads of the Carabinieri Command for the protection of cultural heritage and Francesca Uberti of the Brescia Museums Foundation.

SARDINIA ASSOCIATION TOWARDS UNESCO – The contribution of the Sardinia association TOWARDS Unesco was fundamental on the first day.

"We know the importance of a Unesco recognition but it would only be the starting point that must drag the identity element of the nuraghes to be a turning point for our land - says Pierpaolo Vargiu, president of the association - this asset of our history culture can be a driving force for a sustainable economy. It has a strength that can give employment, opportunities and innovation in our land».

(Unioneonline/lf)

© Riproduzione riservata