Nine new historic cemeteries
Nine new monumental and historic cemeteries have been recognized by the Emilia-Romagna Region in Italy, adding to the 22 identified in the first recognition campaign of 2023. Additionally, 23 funding requests have been approved for cultural promotion activities in 2024, with a total funding amount of 137.180 euros.
The regional government has completed the process initiated with the call for recognizing new "Monumental and Historic Cemeteries of Emilia-Romagna" and granting financial support to the recognized entities for cultural promotion activities conducted in 2024.
“We continue the path started for the recognition of significant cemeteries as elements of the regional cultural heritage to be safeguarded and enhanced,” explains Regional Councilor for Culture, Mauro Felicori. “We want to support restoration and conservation projects, as well as increase the enjoyment of this part of the regional cultural heritage that goes beyond memory.”
Managers of burial sites with the minimum mandatory requirements defined by regional law 21 of 2022 could apply for recognition. Requirements include the presence of historically and artistically significant buildings and monuments, sites of collective memory where cultural activities were already conducted from 2021 to 2023 to promote awareness, and public access for at least 150 days per year for municipalities with more than 15.000 inhabitants, and at least 75 days per year for municipalities with fewer than 15.000 inhabitants.
Twenty-six applications were received, three of which requested recognition only, six requested both recognition and funding, and 17 requested funding only from already recognized cemeteries. The nine newly recognized cemeteries this year are: in the province of Bologna, the Casaglia Cemetery in Marzabotto; in the province of Ferrara, the Cento Cemetery and the Cento Jewish Cemetery; in the province of Forlì-Cesena, the Cesena Cemetery, the Forlimpopoli Cemetery, and the Crocesanta Cemetery in Bagno di Romagna; in Modena, the San Cataldo Cemetery and the Vignola Cemetery; in Rimini, the Riccione Cemetery.
Of the received requests, 15 are from municipalities and unions of municipalities, 7 from private law entities, and 4 from associations. The territorial distribution is as follows: 5 requests from the province of Bologna, 4 each from the provinces of Ferrara, Forlì-Cesena, Modena, and Reggio Emilia, 2 each from Ravenna and Rimini, and 1 from Parma.
Projects
Among the funded projects are those of the San Cataldo Cemetery in Modena, with the creation of a digital map and an audio guide for visitors; the Piratello Cemetery in Imola (Bo), with the expansion of existing multimedia routes and the addition of new themes: women's stories, famous figures, wars, architecture, and botany; the Guastalla Cemetery (Re), involving young researchers and developing a new guide and a series of theatrical visits; the Cento Jewish Cemetery (Fe), with an integrated program of archival research, guide training, and guided tours, as well as the restoration design of tombstones; the Crocesanta Cemetery near Bagno di Romagna (FC), with the recovery of a community memory site included in a network of trails and a cultural tourism circuit.
The grants, covering up to 80% of eligible expenses, are a maximum of 8.000 euros per project. The published notice online lists the complete ranking, indicating the accepted applications and the assigned contributions.
For further information, please write to CimiteriMonumentaliStorici@regione.emilia-romagna.it.
*Text source: press release by Barbara Musiani