Architect Lorenzo Carmassi has conceived and scientifically coordinated a major conference devoted to the restoration, regeneration and long-term care of the historic centre of Ragusa, to be held on 25 September 2026 at Villa Carlotta.
Promoted by CONFRESTAURO APS – Delegazione Sicilia, the conference “Restauro, riqualificazione e cura del centro storico di Ragusa” brings together public institutions, heritage authorities, researchers and professionals around a common question: how historic cities can be conserved, reused and transformed without losing their architectural and material identity. The entire day and the final round table will be moderated by Vincenzo Pitruzzello, President of the Order of Architects PPC of Ragusa.
The morning session will address planning, World Heritage, architectural restoration, public property and heritage protection. Speakers include Stefano Storchi, President of ANCSA; Raymond Bondin, international World Heritage expert, former President of CIVVIH-ICOMOS and former Permanent Delegate of Malta to UNESCO; Silvano Arcamone of the Agenzia del Demanio; and Antonino De Marco, Superintendent for Cultural and Environmental Heritage of Ragusa. The programme also includes the participation of Francesco Paolo Scarpinato, Regional Councillor for Cultural Heritage and Sicilian Identity.
The institutional opening brings together Giuseppe Cassì, Mayor of Ragusa; Giovanni Gurrieri, Councillor for Historic Centres of the Municipality of Ragusa; Vincenzo Pitruzzello; Marta Fede of the Order of Engineers of Ragusa; and Don Giuseppe Antoci, Director of the diocesan office for cultural heritage and parish priest of the Cathedral of San Giorgio in Ragusa Ibla.
The afternoon session moves from the urban scale to materials, research, environmental criteria and building technologies, with contributions by Adriana Vindigni, Federica Fernandez, Maria Francesca Talamo, Marco Alì and Vincenzo Coppola, addressing historic surfaces, research networks and technological transfer, energy transition in historic buildings, CAM requirements and the diagnosis and treatment of rising damp.
The initiative brings together a broad institutional network including the Municipality of Ragusa, the Sicilian Region – Department of Cultural Heritage and Sicilian Identity, the Order of Architects PPC of Ragusa, the Order of Engineers of the Province of Ragusa, ANCSA – Associazione Nazionale Centri Storico-Artistici and GAL Terra Barocca, alongside the patronage granted by the Commissione Nazionale Italiana per l’UNESCO. The programme identifies Carmassi as responsible for the conception and scientific coordination of the conference.
The day will conclude with the round table “Dalla conferenza a un’agenda per Ragusa”, bringing speakers and institutional representatives together to identify possible priorities and future developments for the care of the historic city.
Full programme and event record: CONFRESTAURO Conference — Ragusa, 25 September 2026