Intorno a Minerva Project celebrated with a community event in Breno, Italy
On 5 October, the Archaeological Park of Minerva in Breno, Italy, hosted a day of celebrations for the Intorno a Minerva Project, winner of a European Heritage Award / Europa Nostra Award 2026 in the category of Citizens’ Engagement and Awareness-Raising.
Set within an archaeological landscape shaped by centuries of encounters, the project has transformed the park into a place where cultural heritage becomes a bridge between people, cultures and generations. Through archaeological excavations, educational activities and cultural events, refugees, local communities and students come together to explore the site’s history and learn from one another. Study meetings, lectures and public debates further open the park to dialogue on cultural encounters, identity, borders and bridges, demonstrating how heritage can foster mutual understanding and a sense of belonging.
The celebrations began at Palazzo della Cultura in Breno with a multidisciplinary panel discussion bringing together archaeologists, historians, architects, philosophers, sociologists and theologians from across Italy. Centred on three key themes – Dialogue, Care and Peace – the discussion explored the role of heritage in building connections and nurturing more inclusive communities.
The event opened with institutional welcoming remarks followed by an intervention from Cristina Loglio, Vice-President of Europa Nostra, and the presentation of the Awards scheme and the five Italian winners of 2026. Among the panellists were Alessandro D’Alessio, Director of the Archaeological Park of Ostia Antica; Emanuele Mariotti, from the University for Foreigners of Siena and archaeologist at San Casciano dei Bagni; and Michele Morabito, from the National Park of Peace of Sant’Anna di Stazzema.
In the afternoon, the celebrations moved to the Archaeological Park itself, where representatives of the local institutions from the participating municipalities gathered alongside members of the community and representatives of K-Pax Social Cooperative, the project partner. The ceremony opened with a powerful collective gesture: an immense peace flag was unfurled, inviting those present to sit together upon it and share a moment of reflection and community.
Speaking on behalf of the Superintendency, Giuseppe Stolfi emphasised that while the European Heritage Award / Europa Nostra Award recognises the project, its true value lies in the people behind it: those who have worked to make it possible and those who have embraced the park, making it a beloved place for the community.
Serena Solano, archaeologist at the Italian Ministry of Culture’s Superintendency of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape for the Provinces of Bergamo and Brescia and Director of the Minerva Archaeological Park, highlighted the significance of the site not only for its remarkable state of preservation, but also for its longstanding role as a place of encounter and exchange. She praised the project for bringing this historical vocation into the present, building a community around the site and connecting local experience with the wider European values of dialogue, inclusion and shared heritage.
Cristina Loglio, Vice-President of Europa Nostra, underlined the collective spirit of the Award, which belongs to all those who have helped make the park open, accessible and welcoming to everyone. She praised the project’s distinctive model of social integration and its innovative international and interreligious approach.
One of the most moving moments of the day came with the unveiling of the Award plaque wrapped in the European flag. Cristina Loglio presented the plaque to representatives of the Superintendency, K-Pax Social Cooperative and the municipalities involved in the initiative – a shared recognition of the many people and institutions whose commitment has made the project possible.
The celebrations concluded with a musical performance and an opportunity for participants to walk through the archaeological park, experience its landscape and reflect on the day’s themes.
