In line with the principles of the Council of Europe Faro Convention, which recognizes cultural heritage as a fundamental resource for the community and the quality of life, the Heritage Walks They are visiting experiences conducted through the voice of local people, in the role of “community witnesses”.
This is not a guided tour, but a participatory itinerary which invites exploration of the area: the citizens become narrators to allow visitors to savor the spirit of the place through stories, personal memories, and suggestions intertwined with a specific theme.
Between 2023 and 2026, the’Mantua and Sabbioneta World Heritage Office organized several heritage walks as part of the project “Mantua and Sabbioneta: two cities, one site”. From these community meetings some projects were born transversal thematic itineraries discovering the UNESCO site.
Watch the video stories
Click on the story titles to watch short video clips featuring testimonials from the walkers:
1. Swifts, herons and bats
The city is home to animal species that have learned to coexist with humans over time, inhabiting and bringing life to the urban heritage. This itinerary was created to observe and rediscover the rich biodiversity among historic architecture.
2. The collector's passion
From stones to figurines, from stamps to great works of art: collecting is a practice as old as humanity itself. A journey guided by the stories of collectors of yesterday and the voices of those of today, in a unique blend of art, music, play, and memory.
3. The Rio flows
The history of the Rio Canal is inextricably intertwined with the lives of those who have lived on its banks. Through childhood memories, work memories, and the daily life of the past, we retrace the historical events to which the canal has witnessed.
