Cultural heritage is fragile property that can deteriorate both slowly and rapidly due to human and natural phenomena. Although this damage cannot be stopped completely, your behaviour can help to delay this process.
 
Contribute to the preservation of heritage for future generations

1. Accept restrictions
   Willingly accept certain bans (do not touch, do not photograph, do not run) or restrictions.
2. Avoid touching
   Remember that every touch, and even the most innocent tiny shake becomes harmful when repeated by 1,000, 10,000, 100,000 people.
3. Wear appropriate footwear
   To avoid damaging ancient stones or mosaics, wear suitable shoes, and keep high heels and studded soles for another occasion.
4. Backpack disasters
   When you find yourself in a closed and crowded area, such as a tomb or a frescoed chapel, pay attention to your backpack: you could brush up against the walls and ruin the frescoes.
5. Avoid climbing
   Statues, monuments and ancient walls have survived over the centuries and are old and fragile. Avoid climbing on top of them to take photos or to be photographed.
6. Stop graffiti
   Although the desire to be immortal is an innate element of human nature, resist the temptation to scribble your name or draw on the monuments and buildings.
7. Missing mosaics
   Would you like to take home as a souvenir a piece of the mosaic you have admired so much? How many visitors with the same wish would it take before the mosaic disappeared forever?
8. Shop responsibly
   Whoever removes cultural property of any kind opens the channel to systematic theft and illicit trafficking of art works. Beware of buying objects of unknown origin.
9. Don’t litter
   Historic and archaeological sites are not dustbins. Take your rubbish with you!
10. Respect silence
    Be respectful of the atmosphere of places that invite meditation and silence, by avoiding any noise pollution (shouts, honking, radios, cellular phones, etc.).

The protection of our cultural heritage depends on each one of us, and concerns us all.

updated on: 5 September, 2006