Giornate Europee del Patrimonio - GEPs 2024 (European Heritage Days)

Promoted by the Council of Europe and the European Commission since 1991 to enhance shared cultural heritage and encourage active participation in its preservation, European Heritage Days (in Italy, Giornate Europee del Patrimonio - GEPs) are one of the most participated cultural events at the European level.

In Italy, the event is coordinated by the Ministry of Culture. The 2024 theme “Patrimonio in cammino - Heritage on the Way” takes up the European slogan “Routes, Networks and Connections”, chosen by the Council of Europe. It is an invitation to reflect on the value of cultural heritage in relation to paths, routes, connections and networks that over the centuries have facilitated exchanges between peoples and cultures and contributed to the formation of a common identity.

To promote this heritage, Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 September (Saturday also in the evening) are dedicated to special openings, meetings, events, guided tours and workshops. The list of initiatives organized in national museums, archaeological sites, libraries and places of culture, with schedules and all information on how to participate, can be found on the Ministry of Culture website. Extraordinary openings of some national museums are also planned for the evening of Saturday 28 September, at the symbolic cost of 1 euro, for example Galleria Borghese, the National Etruscan Museum of Villa Giulia, Palazzo Barberini and Castel Sant’Angelo.

As in past editions, the Capitoline Superintendence is again this year adhering to the European Heritage Days with a rich program of visits (e.g., to the Villa of Maxentius), extraordinary openings (e.g., Porta San Paolo and Porta del Popolo), itineraries (e.g., in the Aqua Virgo Park in Pietralata) and fun activities aimed at audiences of all ages. Many of the encounters in museums and on the territory will include translation into Italian sign language (LIS) by the Department of Social Policies and Health (Personal Services Directorate) and the non-profit social cooperative Segni di Integrazione - Lazio. The full program is available on the Musei in Comune website.