Italian gov't takes emergency measures for quake-hit regions

The Italian government has decided to take emergency measures for the central Italian regions that were struck by strong earthquakes between August 24 and October 30.

China investigates paved Great Wall section

Following media reports that a section of the Great Wall in northeast China had been paved, the state cultural heritage watchdog on Thursday said investigators have been sent to verify the reports and carry out an investigation.

UNESCO approved a Russian resolution on the restoration of Palmyra

The Executive Board of UNESCO approved the proposed by Russia resolution on the issue of conservation and restoration of Palmyra and other cultural sites in Syria. As reported TASS in the Secretariat of an international organization, the initiative was approved unanimously.

World Museums Day celebration opens Monday in Egypt

At the National Museums of Egyptian Civilisation (NMEC), the Ministry of Antiquities is to celebrate World Museum Day through a seminar on the latest museological techniques and training.

UNESCO chief, Sisi discuss looting, destruction of region's antiquities

 The head of UNESCO told Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi on Friday that she was ready to cooperate with the Egyptian authorities, a presidential spokesman said.

Cultural heritage reconstruction may take decades in Nepal

The United Nation's cultural agency is warning that the restoration of the cultural heritage sites damaged in Nepal's earthquake might take ten years or even decades.

Christian Manhart, the UNESCO representative to Nepal, is calling on the international community to help with the rebuilding.

China to ban use of Tibetan sky burial for tourism. (Some travel agents have shown disrespect to the tradition)

China has set out to make a new law to regulate the traditional Tibetan practice of sky burial, which involves feeding bodies of the dead to birds. Official sources in Tibet have indicated that the use of sky burial sites as tourist attraction may be banned.

Minister proposes restoration of Rome's Colosseum arena floor

Italy's culture minister has backed a proposal to rebuild the floor of Rome's Colosseum, allowing visitors to stand in the arena where gladiators once fought.

In ancient times, a wooden floor covered with sand was built on top of tunnels through which animals, fighters or performers were brought into the arena. For more than a century, this underground structure has been exposed.

Italian archaeologist Daniele Manacorda suggested in July that a floor should be put back in the Colosseum.

China accelerates tourism development in Tibet

Tourism authorities have been working to make southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region a major destination, a senior tourism official said Friday.

"Tibet is the last classic treasure on the map, with its religious mystery, sound environment and many historic sites," Du Jiang, deputy director of China National Tourism Administration (CNTA), told Xinhua in an interview.

Tibet's intangible heritage well-protected, says official

LHASA, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese government's efforts to preserve intangible heritage in Tibet and other ethnic regions have proven effective, said sources at the first Tibet development forum Wednesday.

"Of the 386 million yuan (62.7 million U.S. dollars) for cultural heritage preservation allocated by the central treasury between 2002 and 2009, about a quarter was spent in ethnic regions including Tibet," said Li Jianhui, a culture promotion official with the State Ethnic Affairs Commission.

Central and Southwest China: Concern for ancient buildings after floods

Concerns have been raised over the protection of historic towns as persistent downpours in Central and Southwest China have flooded Fenghuang, a renowned tourism destination in Hunan Province.

More than 120,000 people were relocated amid power cuts in Fenghuang on Wednesday.

"THE 7 MOST ENDANGERED" PROGRAMME LAUNCHED. This programme will identify endangered monuments and sites in Europe....

European Investment Bank teams up with Europa Nostra to save Europe's Cultural Heritage 

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The Hague/Luxembourg, 24 January 2013 - Europe's leading heritage organisation Europa Nostra has launched today its new flagship programme ‘The 7 Most Endangered’ with the European Investment Bank Group, represented by the EIB Institute, as its founding partner. This programme will identify endangered monuments and sites in Europe and mobilize public and private partners on a local, national and European level to find a sustainable future for those sites.

“Cultural Heritage is Europe's greatest asset: our crude oil, our gold reserve. Our heritage is Europe's bread and butter, as much as it is Europe's heart and soul. Together with the European Investment Bank, Europa Nostra is proud to launch ‘The 7 Most Endangered’ programme. If we all work together, we can stimulate a true renaissance of Europe’s unique cultural heritage “ said Plácido Domingo, President of Europa Nostra.