The results of the first selection of the initiative 'Adopt a Mediterranean heritage' will be presented to Italian financial investors during a public event at the Istituto Centrale per il Catalogo e la Documentazione (ICCD), Rome on 27 June 2006. 

The meeting is taking place thanks to the support and the collaboration of Assafrica & Mediterraneo and the Associazione CIVITA. 'Adopt a Mediterranean Heritage', launched by the Euromed Heritage Programme, entails an innovative approach to the protection of cultural heritage in the Mediterranean.

It aims to facilitate contact between endangered Mediterranean heritage and international investors (both public and private) interested in financing conservation and valorisation activities, and to support a responsible public/private partnership for cultural heritage which takes account of social development and educational values.

ICCROM, the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, and the news agency ANSAmed are involved in the Scientific Committee of the initiative which is under the patronage of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre.

Examples of projects proposed for adoption include: the restoration of the Villa Antoniadis, which houses the Library of Alexandria and Alex Med (The Alexandria & Mediterranean Research Centre), Alexandria Egypt; the restoration of the Synagogue of Le Hevra Kedosa in Izmir, Turquey; the enhancement of the archaeological site of Petra, Jordan; Al Sawakneh, in the historical centre of Hebron; the Roman-Byzantine castle of Al Burj (Abu Toq), Palestine; the library and archives of the Muftiate in Istanbul, Turkey; and the archaeological site on the island of Qasr Ibrim in Assuan, Egypt.

Further information is available on the Euromed Heritage website.

updated on: 23 July, 2008