The World in Florence 2025

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The World in Florence 2025 – Heritage: Peace & Move

Introduction

The 2025 edition of The World in Florence marked the fifth and final year of this first cycle. A meaningful milestone that we chose to dedicate to the highest purpose of our mission: fostering dialogue for peace among cultures through the shared value of heritage.

The discussions brought together international experts, institutions and practitioners to explore how heritage — in its tangible, intangible and natural dimensions — can become an active tool for connecting people, fostering mutual understanding and supporting sustainable development.

Theme of the Edition

  • Heritage and Peace:

Participants reflected on how cultural heritage can strengthen social cohesion within communities, address contested or disputed histories, and contribute to building shared narratives that promote peace.

  • Education and Communication for Dialogue:

Special attention was given to the role of education, communication and storytelling in fostering a culture of dialogue, encouraging critical awareness and empowering communities to engage constructively with diversity.

  • Empathic Dialogue between Hosts and Guests:
    The programme explored models of tourism based on respect, inclusion and reciprocity, focusing on the relationship between local communities and visitors, and on the role of institutions in shaping sustainable and balanced interactions.
  • Tourism, Environment and Sustainability
    A central theme concerned the impact of tourism on territories, addressing challenges such as overtourism, carrying capacity and environmental sustainability, while promoting responsible and community-based tourism practices.

From Reflection to Action

The 2025 edition of The World in Florence marks a transition towards the operational implementation of dialogue-based practices, positioning cultural heritage as a resource for peace.

At the foundation of this new phase is the “Heritage for Building Peace 2025” Appeal, which defines a shared vision centred on dialogue, reciprocity and cooperation among cultures.

Building on this framework, the International Officina for the Culture of Dialogue in World Heritage Sites is established as an ongoing annual platform for identifying, structuring and sharing effective practices across different contexts.

This process has led to the development of the Pilot International Officina 2025, which includes interviews on the practices discussed during the thematic tables, as well as a selection of the Storytellathon itineraries presented at the event.

Within this framework, the first edition of the Storytellathon contributes by engaging young participants in the creation of narrative-based itineraries, highlighting storytelling as a tool to connect people, places and communities.

Discover More

Includes the interviews of the practices discussed at the tables and a selection of the Storytellathon itineraries presented at the event. (available as PDF)

The complete collection of research contributions and practices presented by the participants.