Five winners from Italy honoured together in San Benedetto Po
On 3 October, the Grand Prix 2026 in Conservation and Adaptive Reuse awarded to the Polirone Monastic Complex in San Benedetto Po was celebrated with a full day dedicated to cultural heritage, its preservation and its role in the life of local communities.
The long-term restoration of the thousand-year-old monastic complex addressed the damage caused by the 2012 earthquake, safeguarded its historic fabric and breathed new life into the site through renewed cultural and civic functions. Today, the complex once again stands at the heart of San Benedetto Po, serving as a vibrant centre for the town’s cultural and community life.
Entitled Polirone: Heritage of Europe (“Polirone: Patrimonio d’Europa”), the event brought together institutions, cultural and civic organisations, local stakeholders and citizens to celebrate a remarkable achievement made possible by their collective commitment to the protection, understanding and enhancement of the Polirone Monastic Complex.
The day opened with a round table, entitled “Sustainable Cultural Tourism for Historic Villages: Heritage, Communities and Local Development”, moderated by Cristina Loglio, Vice-President of Europa Nostra. Representatives of institutions, experts and European cultural networks explored the relationship between heritage, communities and local development, sharing good practices and engaging in dialogue with the audience.
Among the panellists were Caroline Fernolend, President of the Mihai Eminescu Trust and Council Member of Europa Nostra; Stefania Pignatelli, owner of Seghetti Panichi Historic Village and Board Member of Europa Nostra, representing European Historic Houses; and Giulio Lattanzi, Director of Touring Club Italiano.
The official award ceremony followed, opening with institutional greetings from Roberto Lasagna, Mayor of San Benedetto Po. He praised the extraordinary achievement, emphasising that the Award recognises not only the quality of the restoration, but also the resilience and determination of a community that remained connected to its heritage, even during the most difficult times.
Gianmarco Mazzi, Italian Minister of Tourism, and Attilio Fontana, President of the Lombardy Region, addressed the audience through video messages. Representatives of regional and local institutions also attended and contributed to the celebration.
Speaking on behalf of Europa Nostra, Stefania Pignatelli welcomed the Europa Nostra delegation and reflected on the remarkable journey of the Polirone Monastic Complex: from its inclusion in the 7 Most Endangered Programme in 2013 to receiving the Grand Prix thirteen years later. She highlighted the significance of this transformation and the role played by European attention, institutions, professionals and the local community in bringing about the complex’s recovery and renewed appreciation.
A special moment was dedicated to celebrating the five Italian winners of the European Heritage Award / Europa Nostra Awards 2026 represented at the ceremony, accompanied by a screening of a video showcasing their award-winning projects. For the representatives, it was an opportunity to relive the emotions of the Awards Ceremony in Nicosia and to receive their diplomas from Europa Nostra representatives Cristina Loglio, Stefania Pignatelli, Gaiane Casnati, Europa Nostra Council Member, and Caroline Fernolend. Rossana Bettinelli, Europa Nostra Council Member and former Jury Member, was also present.
The five Italian winning projects represented the breadth and diversity of the country’s heritage work. Laura Raddi, Community Manager at Open Event, represented DumBO – Multifunctional Urban District of Bologna, awarded in Conservation and Adaptive Reuse. Lanfranco Secco Suardo represented the National Historical Archive of Italian Restorers (ASRI), recognised in Research. Martina Bocci, PhD at Politecnico di Torino, researcher at Roma Tre University and tutor of the summer school, represented the International Summer School on Historic Masonry Structures (HIMASS), awarded in Education, Training and Skills. Serena Solano, archaeologist at the Italian Ministry of Culture’s Superintendence of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape for the Provinces of Bergamo and Brescia and Director of the Minerva Archaeological Park in Breno, represented Intorno a Minerva, recognised in Citizens’ Engagement & Awareness-Raising.
The celebration then moved outdoors to the monastery’s beautiful gardens, where the Award plaque was unveiled by Mayor Roberto Lasagna and Cristina Loglio, surrounded by members and representatives of the local community whose dedication had helped make the restoration possible.
The day concluded with special guided tours of the monastery, a theatrical performance and an immersive video-mapping experience. Through images, light and multimedia storytelling, the thousand-year history of the Polirone Monastic Complex unfolded before the audience, bringing its past into dialogue with the present.
