INTERNATIONAL EVENT
Spira Pro Course 2026 Management of Historical Centers and World Heritage Sites
Firenze, Department of Architecture, 9 - 11 February 2026
The Spira Pro Course 2026 took place from 9 to 11 February 2026 in the Seminar Room of the Department of Architecture at the Università degli Studi di Firenze. It was organized by Spira – heritage revitalization, a Portuguese organization committed to bringing people closer to cultural heritage and transforming their perspective on this shared legacy – and by the HeRe_Lab Innovation Laboratory, Heritage and Research, in collaboration with the Florence World Heritage and Relations with UNESCO Office of the Municipality of Florence.
The course was attended by 18 Portuguese professionals and was structured around three mornings of lectures and three afternoons of thematic site visits focusing on cultural heritage restoration.
The UNESCO World Heritage Site “Historic Centre of Firenze” was at the heart of the course, with in-depth contributions from the Site Manager, Carlo Francini, and from Valentina Ippolito, Head of the Florence World Heritage and Relations with UNESCO Office of the Municipality of Florence, as well as from professors and researchers of the Department of Architecture (DIDA). Architect Katia Basili, an expert in World Heritage issues, also contributed with three case studies, and Architect Luana Alessandrini presented the World Heritage Site of Urbino.
The Management Plan of the “Medici Villas and Gardens in Toscana” site was also presented, along with the ongoing work related to the Management Plan of Siena.
The presentations sparked strong interest among the professionals, who addressed numerous questions to the speakers.
The afternoons were dedicated to on-site in-depth sessions and were organized into three different visits.
On the first day, participants visited the Cappella Brancacci, accompanied by Giorgio Caselli, Head of the Fine Arts Service and Fabbrica di Palazzo Vecchio of the Municipality of Florence, and Alberto Felici, Restorer at the Superintendency of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape for the Metropolitan City of Florence and the Province of Prato. This was followed by a visit to the Cappella Corsini, accompanied by Rosella Pascucci, Architect at the same Superintendency, and Arianna Muto, Restorer at Fratelli Navarra S.r.l.
The second day focused on the Basilica di Santa Croce, with a special visit organized by Caterina Barboni, Head of Communication and External Relations at the Opera di Santa Croce; Eleonora Mazzocchi, Head of the Cultural Heritage Management and Protection Service; Donata Grossoni of the Conservation and Enhancement Department; and Restorer Paola Rosa.
On the third and final day, the spotlight was on the Istituto per l’Arte e il Restauro – Palazzo Spinelli. Professor Paolo Pieri Nerli led the group on a tour of the Historic Centre of Florence, aimed at illustrating the transformations of the urban and historic centre over time. The day concluded with a meeting at the Institute with Emanuele Amodei, Sole Director, and Catherine Burnett, Head of International Projects and Cooperation.
The course was marked by attentive and engaged participation in all activities, which consistently placed the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Historic Centre of Florence” at the centre of discussion.
