The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) intangible cultural heritage elements are the non-physical traditions and practices performed by a people. As part of a country's cultural heritage, they include celebrations, festivals, performances, oral traditions, music, and the making of handicrafts. The "intangible cultural heritage" is defined by the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, drafted in 2003 and took effect in 2006. Inscription of new heritage elements on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists is determined by the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, an organisation established by the convention.
Italy ratified the convention 30 October 2007.
Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
Representative List Name Image Year No. Description Opera dei Pupi, Sicilian puppet theatre 2008 00011 The Opera dei Pupi is a marionette theatrical representation of romantic poems traditionally performed in Sicily. Canto a tenore, Sardinian pastoral songs 2008 00165 The is a style of polyphonic folk singing characteristic of Sardinia. Traditional violin craftsmanship in Cremona 2012 00719 The Cremona's traditional violin making is an ancient form of handicraft typical of Cremona, where bowed string instruments like violins, violas, cellos and double basses have been made since the 16th century. Celebrations of big shoulder-borne processional structures 2013 00721 These celebrations are a particular form of Catholic procession which involves the use of large votive structures to be carried on the shoulders, particularly in Nola (), Palmi (Varia di Palmi), Sassari (), and Viterbo (Macchina di Santa Rosa). Mediterranean diet + 2013 00884 The Mediterranean diet is the traditional food and methods of preparation used by the people of the Mediterranean basin, as well as everything related to them. Traditional agricultural practice of cultivating the 'vite ad alberello' (head-trained bush vines) of the community of Pantelleria 2014 00720 Vines traditional agricultural practice in Pantelleria. Art of Neapolitan 'Pizzaiuolo' 2017 00722 The culinary practices of the Pizzaiuolo –the pizza baker–, in Naples. Art of dry stone construction, knowledge and techniques + 2018 02106 Dry stone is a building method by which structures are constructed from stones without any mortar to bind them together. Celestinian forgiveness celebration 2019 01276 The Celestinian forgiveness is a religious and historical annual event held in L'Aquila. Alpinism + 2019 01471 Alpinism is a set of outdoor activities that involves ascending mountains. Musical art of horn players, an instrumental technique linked to singing, breath control, vibrato, resonance of place and conviviality + 2020 01581 The art of glass beads + 2020 01591 The craft of glass beading dates back to ancient Egyptian and Roman civilizations and it is practiced particularly in Murano. Falconry, a living human heritage + 2021 01708 The origin of falconry goes back to the use of hunting by birds of prey as a mean of hunting but it has evolved over time to become part of the cultural heritage of the people. Truffle hunting and extraction in Italy, traditional knowledge and practice 2021 01395 Lipizzan horse breeding traditions + 2022 01687 Transhumance, the seasonal droving of livestock + 2023 01964 Transhumance is a type of pastoralism or nomadism, a seasonal movement of livestock between fixed summer and winter pastures. Traditional irrigation: knowledge, technique, and organization + 2023 01979 The practice of opera singing in Italy 2023 01980 Manual bell ringing + 2024 02100 Italian cooking, between sustainability and biocultural diversity 2025 02093
Good Safeguarding Practices Name Year No. Description Tocatì, a shared programme for the safeguarding of traditional games and sports + 2022 01709
See also List of World Heritage Sites in Italy
Notes
References
External links UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage: Official site UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in Italy: Official site