INT-ACT Showcased at ISOCARP’s 60th Congress in Siena

Siena, located in the heart of Tuscany, Italy, is a charming medieval city renowned for its rich history, stunning architecture, and vibrant culture. Known for its well-preserved early Italian Gothic buildings, Siena’s centerpiece is the Piazza del Campo, a fan-shaped square that hosts the famous Palio horse race twice a year. The city is also home to the impressive Siena Cathedral, adorned with intricate marble and stunning frescoes. With its narrow cobblestone streets, lively cafes, and deep-rooted traditions, Siena offers an authentic glimpse into Italy’s past and a warm, inviting atmosphere for visitors.

The presentation took place on the on Wednesday 9th October 2024, in the Aula Magna Rettorato of the University of Siena. The Conference was hosted by the Municipality of Siena, in the Old City.

The Presentation „INT-ACT Intangible Cultural Heritage, bridging the past, present and future” was presented by Andrada Lupulescu (Urbasofia) and it encompassed a walkthrough of the project from a methodological point of view, up until the future steps that are expected to be accomplished. The presentation was structured in the following way: an introduction regarding the context, the starting problem of the project, the study cases (localization, background information), the methodological approach, long-term impact on communities & heritage preservation, future development: enhancing cultural heritage engagement, INT-ACT’s long-yerm vision for cultural preservation.

A specific aspect which sparked interest in the auditorium was the current stage of development which involves collecting the narrative interviews, measuring cortisol levels, and natural language processing. Another question from the public was related to what ontologies represent. Even though the project is not finalized, the current results highlight the direction of the project in bringing intangible experiences to the forefront.

Flyers of the project were shared at the Conference for further dissemination of the project.

Overall, the presentation was well received and will be followed by a publication on the topic.