The Sunday Times of Malta, in its 11 October 2026 edition, has dedicated an article to the contribution of Raymond Bondin, former Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Malta to UNESCO, at the international conference “Restoration, Regeneration and Care of Ragusa’s Historic Centre”, held on 25 September 2026 at Villa Carlotta Boutique Hotel in Ragusa.
The conference was conceived and scientifically coordinated by architect Lorenzo Carmassi, Delegate of the President of CONFRESTAURO APS for Sicily.
Published under the headline “Sicily and Malta should build a network around heritage, tourism and investment”, the article highlights the relationship between World Heritage conservation, cultural tourism, territorial development and the opportunities for closer cooperation between south-eastern Sicily and Malta.
The publication brings international attention to the central questions addressed during the conference: how to translate the recognition of historic cities into effective policies of conservation, how to ensure that their architectural and urban heritage remains accessible and alive, and how to build lasting cooperation between institutions, professionals, local communities and economic stakeholders.
From UNESCO recognition to the responsibility of conservation
Raymond Bondin’s address focused on the responsibilities arising from the inclusion of the Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Drawing on his extensive international experience in heritage conservation, Bondin identified four essential responsibilities: conservation, accessibility, protection of authenticity and integrity, and active management.
His contribution stressed the importance of regarding Ragusa Ibla not merely as a collection of outstanding monuments, but as a historic urban landscape whose architectural quality depends on the relationship between individual buildings, public spaces and the broader urban fabric.
In this perspective, UNESCO recognition cannot remain an isolated achievement. It must become the foundation for coordinated conservation policies, effective management, long-term planning and the continued cultural and social life of historic centres.
Sicily and Malta: building a shared Mediterranean network
A central theme of Bondin’s intervention, emphasised by the Maltese newspaper, was the potential for closer cooperation between Sicily and Malta.
The two islands share a geographical and cultural proximity that could support new forms of collaboration in heritage conservation, tourism, research and investment.
Bondin drew particular attention to Malta’s experience in tourism planning and in securing European funding for major heritage restoration projects, often developed within broader programmes of cultural and economic regeneration.
For south-eastern Sicily, this perspective suggests the possibility of linking the conservation of historic architecture to wider territorial strategies, reinforcing cooperation among the cities of the Val di Noto and developing relationships with neighbouring Mediterranean territories.
As reported in the article, Bondin summarised the essential condition for this process in a direct statement:
“If we do not build a network, we cannot move forward.”
The Ragusa conference and Carmassi’s scientific coordination
The conference, promoted by CONFRESTAURO APS – Delegazione Sicilia and conceived and scientifically coordinated by Lorenzo Carmassi, brought together institutional representatives, architects, conservation specialists, researchers and professionals to address the relationships between architectural quality, conservation, urban regeneration, scientific knowledge, technology and sustainability.
The initiative was held with the patronage of the Italian National Commission for UNESCO, the Sicilian Regional Government, the Municipality of Ragusa, ANCSA and other territorial institutions and professional organisations.
Its scientific programme developed around the principle that conservation cannot be reduced to compliance with technical regulations or the application of individual technologies. Knowledge of historic buildings, architectural design and the ability to recognise and preserve the quality of existing spaces must remain central to every process of transformation.
The attention given to Bondin’s contribution by The Sunday Times of Malta extends this discussion beyond the Ragusa conference and reinforces the importance of international dialogue on the future of historic cities.
CONFRESTAURO Sicilia launches its Instagram and YouTube channels
Alongside the international dissemination of the conference’s contents, CONFRESTAURO Sicilia has established two new digital communication channels dedicated to documenting and sharing its cultural and scientific activities.
The Instagram account @confrestaurosicilia, launched on 9 October 2026, presents photographic documentation, conference reports, speakers’ contributions and updates on initiatives concerning architectural conservation, historic centres and cultural heritage.
The YouTube channel @CONFRESTAUROSicilia, launched on 8 October 2026, provides a permanent audiovisual archive of the association’s activities. Its first collection is dedicated to the Ragusa conference of 25 September 2026, with the full recordings of the speakers’ contributions organised in a dedicated playlist.
These new platforms make the scientific and institutional contents of the conference accessible beyond the date of the event, supporting their continued dissemination to professionals, researchers, institutions and the wider public.
Further information
The Sunday Times of Malta — 11 October 2026, page 38
CONFRESTAURO Sicilia on YouTube