Alhambra Palace - Granada
Alhambra Palace - Granada

The Second World War claimed more lives than any other war in history and obliterated a great deal of cultural property that defined the communities in which they were erected. This included many historic cities of Europe.

In its aftermath, the world needed a technical institution dedicated to preserving, protecting and restoring what humanity had destroyed. In response, UNESCO created ICCROM and chose Rome as its headquarters. As home to ICCROM and as a beneficiary of its earliest efforts, Europe is a region with which the organization has always had close ties, and which has also had an important role to play in the conservation sector.

Sixty years later, humanity is faced yet again with large-scale and catastrophic developments – mass displacement of people, entrenched conflict, harshening climate. All are challenging cultural heritage preservation. Europe is again in a positon to both benefit from and serve ICCROM’s efforts. This is not only because these demographic, political and climatic forces are playing out within or near its borders, but also because Europe is able – and therefore responsible – to play a more universal role in enacting change.

ICCROM is eager to engage with a Europe that leverages everything from its resources, to experience and diplomatic know-how to model inclusive and engaged societies. Europe can take the lead in truly integrating refugees who come in search of safety, embracing the cultures they bring and incorporating them into Europe’s own. Europe can show how caring for culture is caring for people as heritage congregates and generates cohesion, understanding and even economic opportunity. And when Europe extends this work beyond its borders, it can demonstrate how the returns on cultural diplomacy are more stable, inclusive and just nations – indeed, a better world.

Featured

Visit by Representatives of Sweden

Visit by Representatives of Sweden

On 14 April 2024, the Director-General of ICCROM, Aruna Francesca Maria Gujral, welcomed representatives from the Embassy of Sweden and members of the Swedish Parliamentary Committee on Culture to ICCROM headquarters in Rome.

Introducing Towched: transforming European education through art and creativity

An international Consortium aims to change the European educational framework by demonstrating the potential of arts and cultural heritage in children and youth using the Sustainable Development Goals as its core.
Empowering Education for Sustainable Development through museum collections: Join the TOWCHED Survey and Shape the Future of Learning in Europe

Empowering Education for Sustainable Development through museum collections: Join the TOWCHED Survey and Shape the Future of Learning in Europe

ICCROM is proud to be part of an international consortium focused on strengthening the role and recognition of heritage collections in the European educational framework. This initiative aims to demonstrate the potential of arts and cultural heritage in shaping the education of children and youth, with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at its core. By integrating these elements, the project...

Workshop Advances National Legislation for Civil Protection and Heritage Cooperation in Croatia 

Workshop Advances National Legislation for Civil Protection and Heritage Cooperation in Croatia 

Strengthening cooperation between civil protection forces and heritage professionals, updating risk assessment frameworks, and launching dedicated fire mitigation projects for heritage—these are among the key outcomes of a recent workshop for Croatian professionals. Held from 1-5 February 2025, at ICCROM HQ, the training has already led to concrete actions at local, regional, and national levels...

Visit from Ambassador of Principality of Monaco

Visit from Ambassador of Principality of Monaco

On Friday, 21 February, ICCROM Director-General Ms Aruna Francesca Maria Gujral had the honour of welcoming the extraordinary and plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Principality of Monaco to Rome, H.E. Ms Anne Eastwood, accompanied by Ms Christelle Revel, Second Secretary and Deputy Permanent Representative to the FAO.

READY track 1

Call for Applications: READY Track 1 – Safeguarding Heritage Collections, Living Traditions and Practices in the face of Disasters, Extreme Weather Events and Complex Emergencies

READY track 1: Safeguarding Heritage Collections, Living Traditions and Practices in the face of Disasters, Extreme Weather Events and Complex Emergencies is conceived as a hybrid course, this interdisciplinary training emphasizes a systems-based approach to managing risks to heritage collections—whether in museums, libraries, archives, or places of worship—as well as to living traditions and...

ChemiNova: Advancing Cultural Heritage Conservation at Schönbrunn Palace, Vienna

From 20 to 24 January 2025, the ChemiNova project conducted a data acquisition campaign at the iconic Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna. Funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe Framework Programme, ChemiNova aims to refine cutting-edge technologies for monitoring, analyzing, and preserving cultural heritage sites, particularly in the face of challenges posed by climate change and human-induced threats.
ChemiNova: Advancing Cultural Heritage Conservation at Schönbrunn Palace, Vienna

ChemiNova: Advancing Cultural Heritage Conservation at Schönbrunn Palace, Vienna

From 20 to 24 January 2025, the ChemiNova project conducted a data acquisition campaign at the iconic Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna. Funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe Framework Programme, ChemiNova aims to refine cutting-edge technologies for monitoring, analyzing, and preserving cultural heritage sites, particularly in the face of challenges posed by climate change and human-induced...

ICCROM’s Role in the International Summer School for Youth & Heritage (ISSYH)

ICCROM’s Role in the International Summer School for Youth & Heritage (ISSYH)

ICCROM actively participated in the International Summer School for Youth & Heritage (ISSYH), an annual international event organized by the International Forum Bosnia (IFB). ISSYH emphasizes the transformative power of cultural heritage in rebuilding communities affected by conflict, where cultural heritage has been both a target and a tool for reconstruction. In this context, the programme...

Nantucket hosts landmark training on Climate Action for Sustainable Built Heritage

Nantucket hosts landmark training on Climate Action for Sustainable Built Heritage

After four weeks of dedicated research, the International Training Course on Climate Action for Sustainable Built Heritage Conservation and Management has come to a close.