A Halloween party in a listed medieval building. It happened in Messina, in theformer church of Santa Maria Alemanna, and the episode has sparked a heated debate on the management of cultural assets granted for private use. The Heritage for Rent initiative, a round table organized by the Peloritani Legambiente Circle, takes its cue from this event, scheduled for Thursday, November 13, 2025, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Hall of Mirrors of the Metropolitan City of Messina. The meeting was created to question a crucial issue: to what extent is it permissible and appropriate to use places of historical or artistic value as settings for private events, be it a dinner, a wedding, a fashion show or a themed party, without distorting their cultural destination? The issue of concessions for the use of cultural property thus returns to the center of attention, between the need to preserve heritage and the need to enhance it, in the difficult balance between public protection and economic management.
Promoting and curating the initiative is Silvia Mazza, art historian and journalist, who brought to light the case of Santa Maria Alemanna with an article published in Finestre Sull’Arte (you can read it here). According to reports, the church was allegedly given in concession without the prior authorization of the Superintendence of Messina, a mandatory step for any use of listed property. The episode has raised questions about the proper application of regulations and the margins of discretion in the management of public property. Speakers at the panel discussion will include, in addition to Mazza, Orazio Micali, Superintendent of Cultural Assets of Messina; Gianfranco Zanna, National Cultural Assets Manager of Legambiente; Nino Principato, architect and expert on homeland history; and Alfio La Rosa, President of Federconsumatori Sicilia. The proceedings will be opened by greetings from Franco Parisi, president of the Peloritani Legambiente Circle. The discussion will thus aim to examine the way in which cultural assets granted are allocated and managed, with particular attention to selection criteria, compatibility checks and transparency of procedures.
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| When heritage becomes location: the case of Santa Maria Alemanna |
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