The fourth edition of The World in Florence, days dedicated to celebrating tourism, heritage, communities and sustainability, comes to Palazzo Coppini and Auditorium al Duomo from November 11 to 13. Curated by Fondazione Romualdo Del Bianco – Life Beyond Tourism, more than 30 countries will be present, including new entries Gambia, Togo, Burundi, Sri Lanka, Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mexico and Australia.
This year’s festival celebrates the 35th anniversary of the Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation and marks the 55th international event it has organized. It serves as a platform for intercultural dialogue and the exchange of experiences, with the central theme of this edition being the relationship between communities and heritage, exploring how communities preserve, enhance, and live their cultural and natural heritage. Talks, exhibitions, performances and screenings in collaboration with RAM Rovereto Film Festival and Toscana Film Commission all form the lineup, as well as cultural tastings, music and dance to celebrate dialogue and peaceful coexistence between peoples.
Conferences with internationally renowned speakers include Patrick Wyss, president and founder of the South Dakota Parks and Wildlife Foundation, speaking on ‘Private participation in protecting and enhancing our great outdoors’. The architect of the Tatanka Museum in the Black Hills of the United States, a project commissioned by actor Kevin Costner, is a strong supporter of Native American culture. Other names featured are Mounir Bouchenaki, consultant to the UNESCO Director General; Aruna Francesca Maria Gujral, Director General of ICCROM (International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property); and Alessandra Petrucci, President of the University of Florence.
The festival represents a unique opportunity for intercultural dialogue, promoting peaceful coexistence and the enhancement of world heritage. This commitment is reflected in the patronage of prestigious institutions such as the European Parliament, the Council of Europe, and major intergovernmental organizations like ICCROM. The festival is also part of the Centenary Celebrations of the University of Florence, confirming The World in Florence as a moment of international, intercultural, and interdisciplinary reflection and exchange.
The festival will have free admission, with many events aimed at higher education institutes, local public administrations and private organizations in the sector, as well as all those curious to discover the cultures of the world. Opening at 5pm on November 11, there will be tastings from around the world at 6.30pm at Palazzo Coppini, while an unmissable percussion performance by Burundi, making its debut in Italy, brings the festival to a close on November 13.
