Award Ceremony for the Basilica Palladiana in Vicenza, Italy
The Local Award Ceremony at the Basilica Palladiana in Vicenza, a 2014 winner of the EU Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Award, took place on 12 September 2014.
Denis de Kergorlay, Executive-President of Europa Nostra signed the municipality’s “Albo d’Onore” following a meeting with the Mayor of Vicenza, Achille Variati, at Palazzo Trissino.
During the ceremony the Mayor of Vicenza stressed the great success that followed the restoration of the Basilica with a total number of 600.000 visitors. Exhibitions, various events and special night openings during the entire summer attracted large audiences. It also allowed the Basilica to become financially independent.
Denis de Kergorlay addressed the attendence of almost 300 people and congratulated the authorities and the citizens of Vicenza for their engagment and love towards their beautiful historic city. He also congratulated Vicenza on the 20th Anniversary of its inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Europa Nostra’s delegation was further composed of the Vice-President of Europa Nostra Federico Guasti, Board Member Rossanna Bettinelli and the Secretaty General Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailović.
Alessandra Moretti, Member of the European Parliament forwarded greetings from Silvia Costa, the new Chair of the EP’s Committee on Culture and Education. Gianna Gaudini, the Superintendent for Architecture and Landscape from the Italian Ministry of Culture summarised the various phases of this exemplary restoration.
Gianni Zonin, President of the Banca Popolare di Vicenza who initiated the candidature of the Basilica Palladiana, attended this ceremony together with many officials, heritage and culture experts, media representatives and the general public.
Special words of thanks were conveneyd to the former mayor of Vicenza Enrico Hüllweck who started the restoration project and the Foundation of the Cassa di Risparmio di Verona, Vicenza, Belluno and Ancona that provided the funding of this outstanding conservation on one of the most important work of the Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio (1508-1580).
