The War Museum visited Italy to learn about the preventive conservation of cultural heritage
At the beginning of June, Hellar Lill, Director of the Estonian War Museum, and Project Manager Annemai Mägi visited Italy as part of the PROTECH project to learn about local solutions for the preventive protection of cultural heritage. The Estonian delegation also included Urmas Dresen, Director of the Estonian Maritime Museum, and Marju Reismaa, Museum Adviser at the Ministry of Culture.
On 4–5 June 2026, the partners of the PROTECH project gathered in the town of Acqui Terme, located in the Piedmont region of Northwest Italy. The town hosted the 3rd Partner Meeting and the 2nd Hybrid Seminar and Capacity Building Workshop of the project, dedicated to “Preventive Risk Management for Cultural Heritage: Piedmontese Perspectives for Heritage Protection across Europe”.
The event was organised by the local development agency LAMORO and the Municipality of Acqui Terme. Over the course of two days, European partners, experts, and local cultural actors exchanged experiences, participated in training sessions, and took part in study visits.
During the first day, the workshop explored different approaches to preventive risk management for cultural heritage.
Elena Gallizio (Consolidarte di Elena Gallizio) presented the restoration of the historical Pieve del Cauro di Montechiaro d’Acqui, highlighting the importance of an interdisciplinary approach involving experts from various fields to conserve local heritage.
Paola Croveri and Marie Claire Canepa (Centro Conservazione Restauro “La Venaria Reale”) discussed preventive conservation protocols and new European research projects, with a focus on the famous Piedmont Royal Residences.
Virginia Valesio (Fondazione LINKS) demonstrated how modern technologies and digital solutions can be used for the planned conservation and preventive maintenance of fountains and monuments in Turin’s public space.
Architects Stefano Chiodi and Chiara Caniggia, together with Simone Giovanni Lerma from the regional heritage authority (Soprintendenza Archeologia Belle Arti e Paesaggio Alessandria, Asti e Cuneo), presented the Via Cassino case study, addressing how to protect excavated archaeological coverings from weather elements while ensuring accessibility for visitors and people with special needs.
Lorenzo Torielli (Gruppo Comunale Volontari Protezione Civile Alessandria) focused on the role of Civil Protection. In Italy, volunteer rescuers receive specialized training to actively safeguard and rapidly evacuate cultural heritage sites and artifacts during emergency situations, such as earthquakes or floods.
The programme also included the Steering Committee Meeting, a study visit to the Museo Archeologico di Acqui Terme, and the official inauguration of the Wide Area Museum Network.
The second day featured a cultural-historical study tour across the territory to gain deeper insight into the Piedmont region’s rich history.
- In Sezzadio, participants visited the historical Abbey of Santa Giustina.
- In Cassine, they explored the “Paola Benzo Dapino” Museum of Sacred Art, the Church of San Francesco, and the historic centre.
- In Montechiaro d’Acqui, they visited the local historic Parish Church/Pieve.
- In the host city of Acqui Terme, they visited the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and “La Bollente”, the city’s historic thermal spring. Located in the town’s central square, this thermal spring naturally flows with sulfur- and salt-rich curative water at 74.7 °C, around which the city has developed since the times of the Roman Empire.
- In Monastero Bormida, they visited the medieval castle.
- The day of study visits concluded with the official inauguration of the major event “Acqui Terme Romana 2026”, celebrating the city’s rich ancient heritage.
Estonia is represented in the PROTECH 2024 project by the Estonian War Museum – General Laidoner Museum and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Estonia as official partners, and The Estonian Maritime Museum Foundation as an expert and stakeholder.
In addition to Estonia, partners and organizations from North Macedonia, Spain, Belgium, Hungary, Romania and Italy are also actively participating in the project.
