Living Heritage Goes to School 2025
The initiative
Unitelma Sapienza is participating in the International Day for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, and to mark the occasion, the university’s UNESCO Chair in “Intangible Cultural Heritage and Comparative Law,” directed by Professor Pier Luigi Petrillo, has engaged 18 Italian schools in a series of reflective activities with students from elementary, middle, and high schools.
For each school, the UNESCO Chair at Unitelma Sapienza—which is the only one in Italy dedicated to the topic of intangible heritage—has prepared a “toolkit” providing teachers with a series of educational activities and ideas for discussion and reflection, tailoring the materials to the specific grade level involved.
Classroom Activities: Photos and Presentations from Participating Schools
Scuola Paritaria “San Paolo” Suore Orsoline S.C.G.A. – Rome
Students explored Italian intangible cultural heritage through drawings dedicated to the pizzica, the stornellatore tradition and the Macchina di Santa Rosa, reflecting on music, oral expressions, rituals and community celebrations.

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Istituto Comprensivo Statale “Sauro Morelli” – Torre del Greco
Students prepared a presentation on the living heritage of Torre del Greco, from the Feast of the Immaculate Conception to coral craftsmanship and the traditional Festa dei Quattro Altari.

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Istituto Comprensivo “Elio Vittorini” – Messina
Students rediscovered the intangible cultural heritage of Messina through drawings, posters and presentations on traditional crafts that are less practised today, local knowledge and traditional pastry-making.

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