Heritage: Peace & Move
The 2025 edition of The World in Florence marks the fifth and final year of this first cycle. A meaningful milestone that we have chosen to dedicate to the highest purpose of our mission: fostering dialogue for peace among cultures through the shared value of heritage.
This year, more than ever, we want to offer that same space to listen to your voices and shape the event around the themes that matter most to you.
By doing so, we aim to strengthen the role of Learning Communities as centers of awareness—places where individuals can engage in dialogue-based initiatives and contribute to the creation of a culture of peace.
Join the Conversation | Florence, 27–28 November 2025
We invite you to choose the discussion topics that are most relevant to your context and experiences. Based on your responses, we will organize a series of interactive, international discussion tables where participants from different countries, sectors and communities will sit side by side and tackle common challenges, ideas, opportunities and best practices. Each table will be led by a facilitator and will result in a shared outcome—be it a proposal, a reflection, or a call to action.
You’ll be able to choose among several key themes, including:
Peace and Heritage: exploring conflict, reconciliation, intercultural education, and the communicative power of culture
Empathic Dialogue: both Hosts and Guests should rethink tourism through respect, dialogue, and local benefit
Tourism and Environment: addressing overtourism, sustainability, and community resilience
Your input will directly define the structure of this year’s event.
Join TWIF as an ACTIVE PARTICIPANT
If you are interested in taking part in TWIF 2025 as an active participant, please read below all the possible discussion topics that will be discussed at the event tables and prepare the required material for a constructive and useful debate to bring about real change in your local community.
Once you have prepared your material, proceed with buying the ticket and you will receive the link to the registration form to fill out. Secure your place to write the future together!
Thank you for contributing. Together, we will make this edition of The World in Florence – Heritage: Peace & Move a true space of connection, reflection, and meaningful global cooperation.
Let’s take a step forward—together—for peace, through heritage.
The World in Florence 2025 – Heritage: Peace & Move
Places of discord: when heritage is controversial or disputed
If you choose this topic, you wish to engage in a discussion about places or heritage elements that are subject to conflicts between different groups. Disputes over traditions, monuments, cultural symbols, or historical sites often reflect political, religious, or social tensions.
The discussion table will bring together representatives from different contexts facing similar challenges, providing an opportunity to share experiences, resolution strategies, and lessons learned. The goal is to identify practical pathways for shared heritage management, fostering dialogue and reconciliation.
If you choose this topic, you will have the opportunity to discuss a specific case of your interest, to initiate a constructive debate. You will be asked to prepare:
1) a title of your case study
2) an abstract of your case study (max 1.000 words)
3) a best practice or solution you have implemented to face your issues (max 600 words)
4) you short biography to tell us about your background, professional experience, and how you are involved with this case.
Peace education
We shall explore the ways education can foster peaceful behavior and dialogue. In a world of growing conflicts fuelled by polarisation, competition and aggressive communication, heritage and culture should no longer be the cause of differences, but act as bridges for mutual understanding when supported by effective educational strategies.
In this discussion table, we shall share experiences, methodologies and tools with other people facing the same challenges, that will bring specific cases where mediation and negotiation is needed. The aim will be to find possible solutions to reduce social tensions, address conflicts through heritage, and create inclusive learning environments that promote respect.
If you choose this topic, you will have the opportunity to discuss a specific case of your interest, to initiate a constructive debate. You will be asked to prepare:
1) a title of your case study
2) an abstract of your case study (max 1.000 words)
3) a best practice or solution you have implemented to face your issues (max 600 words)
4) you short biography to tell us about your background, professional experience, and how you are involved with this case.
Communicating peace: the role of communication in building dialogue
If you choose this topic, you want to explore the role of communication in either promoting or hindering peace. While many people claim to desire peace, they often find themselves caught in conflict dynamics in their daily lives or public debates. Political polarization, sensationalist media, and social networks contribute to creating divisions rather than fostering dialogue.
This discussion table will focus on strategies to transform social communication into a tool for peace, analyzing how language, narratives, and media can encourage respect and mutual understanding. It will be an opportunity to engage with other stakeholders invested in this issue and to identify effective practices that can be applied in different contexts.
If you choose this topic, you will have the opportunity to discuss a specific case of your interest, to initiate a constructive debate. You will be asked to prepare:
1) a title of your case study
2) an abstract of your case study (max 1.000 words)
3) a best practice or solution you have implemented to face your issues (max 600 words)
4) you short biography to tell us about your background, professional experience, and how you are involved with this case.
Enhancing the role of heritage in creating social cohesion in the local community
If you choose this topic, you want to explore how heritage—tangible, intangible, and natural—can serve as a driver of social cohesion and inclusion within local communities. In many places, heritage is not just a legacy of the past but a living presence that shapes identity, strengthens community bonds, and supports dialogue across generations and cultures.
Tangible heritage such as monuments, buildings, and urban spaces provides a common ground for shared experiences. Intangible heritage—languages, traditions, crafts, and rituals—fosters a sense of belonging and cultural continuity. Natural heritage—landscapes, ecosystems, and sacred natural sites—connects people to their environment and to each other, contributing to well-being and sustainability.
This topic invites reflection on how these different forms of heritage can be activated to promote participation, inclusion, and resilience. It offers space to exchange experiences, highlight challenges, and identify strategies that strengthen the social role of heritage in diverse local contexts.
If you choose this topic, you will have the chance to bring in your own perspective or case study, engage in collaborative thinking, and contribute to a broader dialogue on the transformative potential of heritage.
You will have the opportunity to discuss a specific case of your interest, to initiate a constructive debate. You will be asked to prepare:
1) a title of your case study
2) an abstract of your case study (max 1.000 words)
3) a best practice or solution you have implemented to face your issues (max 600 words)
4) you short biography to tell us about your background, professional experience, and how you are involved with this case.
Raising awareness about the acceptance and respect of diversity
If you choose this theme, you will engage in discussions about how to promote respect and acceptance of cultural diversity. In a world where tensions between different groups are emerging again, it is crucial to ask:
– Why does the “other” generate fear or distrust?
– What are the social and cultural factors that fuel prejudice and hostility?
– What principles and elements can foster peaceful coexistence and mutual respect?
The discussion table will bring together experts, educators, and cultural sector professionals who will share good practices and strategies for developing educational and awareness-raising pathways. The goal is to identify concrete initiatives to strengthen awareness and the ability to accept and value differences.
If you choose this topic, you will have the opportunity to discuss a specific case of your interest, to initiate a constructive debate. You will be asked to prepare:
1) a title of your case study
2) an abstract of your case study (max 1.000 words)
3) a best practice or solution you have implemented to face your issues (max 600 words)
4) you short biography to tell us about your background, professional experience, and how you are involved with this case.
Beyond resource-consuming tourism: making travel an authentic experience and exchange
If you choose this theme, you will discuss how to make travel an opportunity for meeting and dialogue, rather than just consuming the destination. The phenomenon of mass tourism has impoverished the traveler’s experience and caused environmental and social damage to host communities, such as commodification of destinations.
We will tackle this challenge on two fronts:
– Educating travelers: how to make them aware of the environmental and cultural impact of tourism and encourage them to choose authentic, immersive, and respectful experiences with local communities.
– Redefining the tourism offer: how entrepreneurs and institutions can balance profit with the protection of a place’s cultural identity, avoiding predatory and standardized forms of tourism that undermine the long-term attractiveness of a place.
The discussion table will gather sector operators, responsible tourism experts, and local community members to exchange experiences, solutions, and effective strategies.
If you choose this topic, you will have the opportunity to discuss a specific case of your interest, to initiate a constructive debate. You will be asked to prepare:
1) a title of your case study
2) an abstract of your case study (max 1.000 words)
3) a best practice or solution you have implemented to face your issues (max 600 words)
4) you short biography to tell us about your background, professional experience, and how you are involved with this case.
The role of institutions in defining the limits of mutual adaptation between guests and local communities
If you choose this theme, you will engage in discussions on a fundamental issue: how much should travelers adapt to local customs, and how much should host communities be ready to embrace cultural diversity?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer, but it is necessary to understand how to find a balance that guarantees respect for local traditions without hindering integration and intercultural dialogue. This theme touches on essential issues such as:
– Mutual cultural prejudices and stereotypes;
– Differences in ethical and social codes;
– Gender norms, religion, and public behavior;
– The role of institutions in regulating the relationship between guests and local communities.
The discussion table will bring together experts, public administrators, and civil society representatives to discuss good practices and strategies for cultural mediation. The goal will be to identify awareness-raising tools and policies that can help manage coexistence between different cultures in the context of tourism and global mobility.
If you choose this topic, you will have the opportunity to discuss a specific case of your interest, to initiate a constructive debate. You will be asked to prepare:
1) a title of your case study
2) an abstract of your case study (max 1.000 words)
3) a best practice or solution you have implemented to face your issues (max 600 words)
4) you short biography to tell us about your background, professional experience, and how you are involved with this case.
Community-based tourism: tourism that supports local communities
If you choose this theme, you will discuss a tourism model that centers on host communities, rather than solely favoring the profits of global actors. Too often, tourism generates wealth for a few, while local communities bear the burden of overcrowding, congestion of public services, and environmental impact.
In this discussion table, we will explore:
– How to promote tourism that supports local economies, adding value to crafts, local products, and services provided by residents.
– Strategies to counter the dominance of large hotel chains and short-term rental platforms that are transforming cities and depriving residents of resources and vital spaces.
– Local policies and awareness-raising initiatives to educate travelers to choose experiences that have a positive impact on host communities.
The table will feature sustainable tourism experts, local community representatives, and industry operators who will share good practices and effective strategies.
If you choose this topic, you will have the opportunity to discuss a specific case of your interest, to initiate a constructive debate. You will be asked to prepare:
1) a title of your case study
2) an abstract of your case study (max 1.000 words)
3) a best practice or solution you have implemented to face your issues (max 600 words)
4) you short biography to tell us about your background, professional experience, and how you are involved with this case.
Limits: understanding the carrying capacity of territories to mitigate the social, environmental, and structural impacts of tourism
If you choose this theme, you will engage in discussions on how to develop sustainable tourism that does not compromise the territory and the quality of life of local communities. Tourism cannot be driven solely by economic and quantitative logic, ignoring the social, environmental, and structural effects it entails.
Some key questions for the discussion table will be:
– What is the real carrying capacity of a territory?
– How can we balance the need for accessibility and inclusivity with respect for the places, avoiding invasive interventions that alter their essence?
– To what extent should a territory be modified to accommodate tourism, and when is it necessary to set limits?
The discussion table will bring together experts, local administrators, and tourism sector professionals to discuss good practices, impact mitigation strategies, and sustainable tourism management models.
If you choose this topic, you will have the opportunity to discuss a specific case of your interest, to initiate a constructive debate. You will be asked to prepare:
1) a title of your case study
2) an abstract of your case study (max 1.000 words)
3) a best practice or solution you have implemented to face your issues (max 600 words)
4) you short biography to tell us about your background, professional experience, and how you are involved with this case.
Creating a conscious tourism movement: how to develop balanced tourism respectful of local natural resources
If you choose this theme, you will discuss how to promote conscious and responsible tourism capable of generating tangible benefits for the territory and the local community without damaging them.
We will address this challenge by considering two key aspects:
– The role of the traveler: how to raise awareness on biodiversity so that they understand the impact of tourism on the planet, promoting travel that respects the natural and cultural resources of the visited place.
– The role of local communities and institutions: how to structure a sustainable tourism offer that reinvests part of the proceeds in environmental protection, land maintenance, and support for local economies.
The discussion table will host experts in sustainable tourism, representatives from local associations, and tourism operators who will share experiences and strategies already tested.
If you choose this topic, you will have the opportunity to discuss a specific case of your interest, to initiate a constructive debate. You will be asked to prepare:
1) a title of your case study
2) an abstract of your case study (max 1.000 words)
3) a best practice or solution you have implemented to face your issues (max 600 words)
4) you short biography to tell us about your background, professional experience, and how you are involved with this case.
Overtourism: addressing the problem of mass tourism and its consequences
If you choose this theme, you will engage with other people dealing with the problem of uncontrolled mass tourism and its negative consequences. Art cities, fragile natural areas, and iconic destinations are increasingly under pressure due to the influx of tourists, which generates problems such as:
– Urban congestion and overcrowding;
– Rising cost of living for residents;
– Loss of local cultural identity;
– Deterioration of heritage and natural resources.
The discussion table will bring together local administrators, experts, and cultural operators to discuss possible solutions: from regulating access to decongestion measures, to diversifying the tourism offer.
If you choose this topic, you will have the opportunity to discuss a specific case of your interest, to initiate a constructive debate. You will be asked to prepare:
1) a title of your case study
2) an abstract of your case study (max 1.000 words)
3) a best practice or solution you have implemented to face your issues (max 600 words)
4) you short biography to tell us about your background, professional experience, and how you are involved with this case.
Zero tourism: how to develop sustainable tourism in little-known territories
If you choose this theme, you will discuss how to promote sustainable tourism in territories that currently receive little or no attention from visitors.
Many destinations, especially rural areas or regions less frequented by tourist flows, could benefit from responsible tourism capable of creating opportunities for local communities without generating the same problems as mass tourism. However, it is essential to avoid mistakes made in other locations, where unchecked tourism growth has led to the loss of authenticity and new forms of economic and social imbalance.
The discussion table will focus on questions such as:
– What strategies can be adopted to attract tourists responsibly, without altering the territory?
– How can we avoid tourism becoming a form of exploitation rather than an opportunity for local communities?
– What good practices can be replicated by territories that have succeeded in developing sustainable tourism?
Experts in territorial marketing, representatives of emerging destinations, and local operators will be involved to share their experiences.
If you choose this topic, you will have the opportunity to discuss a specific case of your interest, to initiate a constructive debate. You will be asked to prepare:
1) a title of your case study
2) an abstract of your case study (max 1.000 words)
3) a best practice or solution you have implemented to face your issues (max 600 words)
4) you short biography to tell us about your background, professional experience, and how you are involved with this case.
Attend TWIF 2025 as a LISTENER
If you’re interested in the themes of Heritage: Peace & Move but prefer not to actively join a discussion table, you can register as a listener and still take part in the event’s cultural and intellectual atmosphere.
As a listener, you will be able to:
✔ Attend the opening session and keynote speeches
✔ Observe selected thematic discussion tables
✔ Join the cultural activities and networking opportunities
✔ Receive the final outputs produced during the event
