Book of Memories 2013

ence

Book of Memories

CLAB*

2013

Malta Palma di Maiorca Paris Praha Rodi St. Petersburg Stockholm imisoara Stuttgart irana Targu Mures alencia Tenerife South Warszawa Wien ¸ rich

Timisoara Tirana Valencia Warszawa Wien Z¸ rich

ntries 248 cities 5 continents

Sidney), Austria (Vienna, Innsbruck, SalGembloux), Bhutan (Thimpu, Paro), Bop), Canada (Quebec), Chile (Valparaiso), abria, Dubrovnik, Spalato, Opatja), Cuba yprus (Famagusta), Denmark (Copenhaer, Lyon, Paris), Georgia (Batumi, Kutaisi, Esztergom), ntinents Japan (Chiba, Tokyo, Kyoto, karta), Ireland (Cork), Israel (Jerusalem, n (Almaty, Chimkent), Kosovo (Pristina), Innsbruck, Sal(Chisinau), (Podgorica),Mopu, Paro), Montenegro Boippines (Quezon City), Poland (Warsaw, le (Valparaiso), ucharest, Cluj Napoca, Sibiu, Timisoara), Opatja), Cuba vsk, Kirillov, Kostroma, Krasnoyarsk, Momark (Copenhamen, Tomsk, Tver, Ufa, Ukhta, Uljanovsk, Batumi, Kutaisi, akia (Banska Bystrica, Banska Stiavnica, , Tokyo, Kyoto, d, Valencia, Madrid), Sweden (Goteborg, ael (Jerusalem, ra, Edirne, Balikesir, Istanbul, Izmir), Tursovo (Pristina), nited Kingdom (Birmingham, Edinburgh, Podgorica),Motle, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, oland (Warsaw, biu, Timisoara), asnoyarsk, Mo-

Introduzione in tre lingue | Introduction in three languages | Введение на трех языках

Ed. March 2017

© Copyright 2013.

All rights reserved.

Founder and supporter of the Fondazione Romualdo del Bianco Book of Memories 2013 Fondazione Romualdo Del Bianco® - Life Beyond Tourism®

©

Coordinamento Corinna Del Bianco Masso delle Fate Edizioni Via Cavalcanti 9/D - 50058 Signa (FI) © Fondazione Romualdo Del Bianco® - Life Beyond Tourism® Masso delle Fate Edizioni ISBN 9788860394118 Special thanks to the Centro Congressi al Duomo that sponsored this publication.

Note: all Memories were published as received without any editing.

Book of Memories 2013

ANNIVERSARY OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FONDAZIONE ROMUALDO DEL BIANCO - BOOK OF MEMORIES

Table of Contents Introduction (Italian - English - Russian)

p. 9

Memories Gulnara Abdrasilova

p. 17

Koji Nishimoto

p. 74

Cristina Acidini

p. 18

Sergiu Nistor

p. 75

Giuli Alasania

p. 19

Tamara Petrashova

p. 76

Larissa Alekseeva

p. 21

Maria Prokopp

p. 78

Bóna István Dr. Habil

p. 23

Ljiljana Sepic

p. 79

Gianni Caridi

p. 24

Tatiana Sergeyeva

p. 80

Dávid Čársky

p. 25

Jose Danilo A. Silvestre

p. 83

The Foundation's experts at the Commission to Preserve National Monuments of Bosnia and Herzegovina

p. 26

Anna Siwik

p. 86

Piotr Stachurski

p. 88

Elena Dimitrova

p. 28

Hovhannes Tokmajyan

p. 90

Vefa Efendizade

p. 30

Junko Tsuji

p. 92

Vladimir Egorov - Olga Karpova

p. 31

Jiří Vaníček

p. 93

Marcello Garzaniti

p. 33

Euphyim Vyshkin

p. 94

Pavel Gregor

p. 34

Stefan Westrych - Stefan Wrona

p. 96

Romana Przybyszewska Gudelis

p. 35

Ilshat Yuldashev - Jennet Yuldasheva

p. 97

Ray Hutchison

p. 38

Helena Zemankova

p. 99

Nana Iashvili

p. 40

Bożena Zimnowoda-Krajewska

p. 100

Yasemin Ince Güney

p. 42

Mieczysław Ziomek

p. 101

George Kalandia

p. 43

First Draft of the Interview by Emanuele Di Castro

p. 103

Olexander Kashchenko

p. 44

Emanuele di Castro

p. 105

Tomas Kačerauskas

p. 46

Temur Kobakhidze

p. 47

Elena Korobiy

p. 49

Stanislaw Daniel Kotlinski

p. 50

Egon Krák

p. 52

Eva Kralova

p. 53

Alexander Kudryavtsev

p. 55

Alexander Kuzmichev

p. 58

Marc Laenen

p. 60

Vladimir Lesovoy

p. 62

Jacek Majchrowski

p. 63

Gulchohra Mammadova

p. 65

Zohrab Melikhyan

p. 68

Sarah Meredith Livingston

p. 69

Éva Mester

p. 70

Maria Murawska

p. 71

Piotr Napierała

p. 72

ANNIVERSARY OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FONDAZIONE ROMUALDO DEL BIANCO - BOOK OF MEMORIES

INTRODUZIONE Questa pubblicazione ha lo scopo di presentare alcune memorie di Esperti delle Fondazione in ricordo delle comuni attività in questi anni; un dono di coloro che ci hanno accompagnati in questa avventura iniziata il 14 settembre 1991 con il colpo di martello sul piede del David da parte di Pietro Cannata. Queste memorie ci aiutano a vedere da vari angoli di visuale questa esperienza della Fondazione. Merita ricordare che quando abbiamo iniziato questo percorso, il muro di Berlino era caduto da pochi mesi e le nostre menti erano pervase da un’enorme fiducia nelle opportunità di un mondo unico, autenticamente nuovo, senza pericolo atomico.

Quell’offesa al piede del David suscitò in noi una curiosa domanda: di fronte a tale scempio quale poteva essere la differenza nelle emozioni fra coloro che avevano vissuto nel regime dell’Unione Sovietica e del Blocco Sovietico e coloro che vivevano in Occidente? Ci sembrò di poter rispondere, pur senza il supporto di una indagine, che mentre in occidente quella era una delle tante notizie, nei Paesi ex comunisti, ove i valori erano stati tenuti chiusi ermeticamente, come in una pentola a pressione, quella era stata diffusamente percepita come un’offesa.

Quindi questa pubblicazione è una preziosa testimonianza dell’operosa partecipazione di tutti gli amici e esperti della Fondazione che di fatto la rappresentano mentre -non mi stancherò mai di sottolineare- il Presidente è semplicemente un coordinatore, più o meno impegnato, più o meno accorto, più o meno fantasioso, più o meno attivo, ma sempre solo il coordinatore.

A conclusione riportiamo un’intervista, purtroppo incompleta, che mi fu chiesta da un professionista che avevo conosciuto nel 1998 per lavoro, il dr. Emanuele di Castro di Roma; oggi non mi sento di considerarlo solo un professionista, è stato un professionista speciale, un professionista amico che mi è stato vicino nei momenti importanti, soprattutto nel 2003, un professionista che mi ha aiutato a riflettere, a scrutare opportunità di sviluppo e di valorizzazione delle risorse umane.

Con sua sorpresa nel 2013 mi ha incontrato non più nella veste d’imprenditore, ma quale Presidente della Fondazione Romualdo Del Bianco-Life Beyond Tourism; mi chiese di intervistarmi e pensai che tale intervista potesse far parte della pubblicazione in corso cui era stato incaricato Maurizio Bossi, Consigliere alle Relazioni Istituzionali della Fondazione; lui aveva concepito una pubblicazione per la la storia della Fondazione estrapolando brani da questi contributi, tutti incastonati dalla sua maestria in un unico racconto. A conclusione del volume sarebbero poi state presentate tutte le testimonianze, per esteso.

Il libro avrebbe dovuto essere diviso nelle varie fasi della storia Fondazione e secondo i momenti di vita imprenditoriale del suo ideatore e fondatore che qui scrive: 1975 Accoglienza Inizio dell’attività turistico-alberghiera da parte di Paolo Del Bianco, ideatore e fondatore della Fondazione Romualdo Del Bianco-Life Beyond Tourism, con i membri della sua famiglia 1991 Incontri e ‘Tributo a Firenze’, ‘Art in our Heart’ e ‘Be Part of History’ Inizio dell’attività di coinvolgimento emotivo degli ospiti degli alberghi 1993 Invito a Firenze Inoltro di oltre 60 inviti di soggiorno a Firenze ad altrettante università dei Paesi della ex Unione Sovietica e Blocco Sovietico. Inizia il grande sogno : invitare il mondo a Firenze per la conoscenza, l’apprezzamento della diversità e per favorire il dialogo tra culture 1996

Viaggio a Tbilisi

1996

Viaggio in Polonia, Cracovia e Varsavia

1996-97 Inviti a Firenze 1998

Costituzione Fondazione Romualdo Del Bianco®

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BOOK OF MEMORIES - ANNIVERSARY OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FONDAZIONE ROMUALDO DEL BIANCO

2006 Da Firenze, con Firenze Auditorium al Duomo, non una conversione al mercato, ma una Best Practice per una missione di dialogo (Riflessione del Prof. Antonio Paolucci, Soprintendente Speciale per il Polo Museale Fiorentino e già Ministro per i Beni Culturali e Ambientali della Repubblica Italiana) 2007 Con il Patrimonio, per il Patrimonio Le grandi opportunità oltre il turismo, ben oltre il turismo, Life Beyond Tourism 2013 Primato delle relazioni interpersonali Palazzo Coppini - ancora una best practice con il Centro Studi e Incontri Internazionali, invece di una residenza storica già licenziata.

Purtroppo il Consigliere, Amico e Maestro Maurizio Bossi è stato particolarmente impegnato nell’insegnarci sia la serena accettazione delle decisioni della natura sia nel dimostrarci la sua forza e la sua determinazione nell’affrontarla; quindi non si è più potuto dedicare a questa pubblicazione, ma in quella situazione non potevo certo pensare di affidare l’incarico ad altri.

Per questo l’intervista del dr. Emanuele Di Castro, che avrebbe dovuto far parte del libro, è rimasta incompleta; mi dispiace, in quanto consapevole dello stato dell’amico Maurizio avrei dovuto svincolare un lavoro dall’altro; ma mai avrei mai potuto immaginare che anche il dr. Emanuele Di Castro ci avrebbe lasciati e, quindi, non avrei avuto più il tempo per completare quanto gli stava a cuore. Non posso non nascondere l’amarezza che mi affligge per questa mancata conclusione, per non avere assecondato questo suo desiderio. Quando mi ha telefonato l’ultima volta per chiedermi se ci fossero novità per la pubblicazione non potrei fare altro che rinviare ancora, mentre lui, dall’altra parte del filo, non mi poteva dire che non avremmo potuto completare l’impegno. “Caro dr. Emanuele Di Castro, mi dispiace averla delusa, lei sa quanto ci tenessi a darle questa soddisfazione, che oltretutto auspicavo, avendo sempre ammirato lei e la sua silenziosa importante opera.”

Paolo Del Bianco

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ANNIVERSARY OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FONDAZIONE ROMUALDO DEL BIANCO - BOOK OF MEMORIES

INTRODUCTION This publication aims at presenting some memories of the Foundation’s Experts remembering our common activities in these years; a gift of those who accompanied us in this adventure started on the 14th September 1991 with a with hammer blow on the foot of David by Peter Cannata. These memories help us see from various perspectives the experience of the Foundation. It is worth remembering that when we started this path, the Berlin Wall had fallen a few months before and our minds were pervaded by an enormous confidence in the opportunities for a united world, genuinely new, with no atomic danger.

That offense to the feet of David aroused in us a curious question: in front of such a carnage, which could be the difference between the emotions of those who had lived in the regime of the Soviet Union and Soviet Bloc and those living in the West? It seemed that we were able to respond, even without the support of investigation, as while in the West this was one of the many news, in the former communist countries, where the values had been kept sealed as in a pressure cooker, it was widely perceived as an insult.

Therefore, this publication is a valuable record of the assiduous participation of all the Foundation’s friends and experts that in fact represent it while –and will I never get tired of underlining it- the President is simply a coordinator, more or less committed, more or less attentive, more or less imaginative, more or less active, but always only the coordinator.

In conclusion, we present an interview, unfortunately incomplete, which was asked to me by a professionist whom I met in 1998 for business reasons, dr. Emanuele di Castro from Rome; today I don’t feel like considering him only a professionist, he was a special professionist, a professionist-friend who was close to me in important moments, especially in 2003, a professionist who helped me to reflect and think over the opportunities of development and enhancement of human resources. To his surprise, in 2013 he met me no longer in the role of a businessman, but as a President of the Fondazione Romualdo Del Bianco-Life Beyond Tourism; he asked to interview me and I thought that this interview could be part of the publication in progress, on which Maurizio Bossi, Councillor for Institutional Relations of the Foundation was working; he had conceived a publication on the history of the Foundation extracting pieces of those contributions, assembling them with his mastery into a single story. At the conclusion of this work, all the memories in their full versions would have been presented.

The book should have been divided into the various phases of the Foundation’s history and according to the moments of entrepreneurial life of its creator and founder writing here: 1975 Hospitality Start of the touristic and hotelier activity by Paolo Del Bianco, creator and founder of the Fondazione Romualdo Del Bianco-Life Beyond Tourism, together with the members of his family 1991 Meetings and ‘Tribute to Florence’, ‘Art in our Heart’ and ‘Be Part of History’ Start of the activity of emotional involvement of the guests of hotels 1993 Invitation to Florence Sending of over 60 invitation for a stay in Florence to as many universities from Countries of the Ex-Soviet Union and Soviet Bloc. A great dream starts : inviting the world to Florence for knowing and appreciating the diversity and favouring dialogue among cultures.

1996

Travel to Tbilisi

1996

Travel to Poland, Krakow and Warsaw

1996-97 Invitations to Florence 1998

Constitution of the Fondazione Romualdo Del Bianco®

2006 From Florence, with Florence Auditorium al Duomo, not a market conversion, but a Best Practice for the mission of dialogue (Reflection by Prof.

Antonio Paolucci, Special Superintendent for the State Museums of Florence and former Minister of Cultural and Environmental Heritage of the Italian Republic)

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BOOK OF MEMORIES - ANNIVERSARY OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FONDAZIONE ROMUALDO DEL BIANCO

2007 With Heritage, for Heritage Great opportunities beyond tourism, well beyond tourism, Life Beyond Tourism 2013 Priority of interpersonal relations Palazzo Coppini – another best practice with the International Meetings and Study Centre, instead of an already licensed historic residence.

Unfortunately the Councillor, Friend and Teacher Maurizio Bossi had been particularly involved in teaching us both the serene acceptance of the decisions of nature, and in showing us his strength and determination in tackling the disease; therefore, he could no longer follow this publication, but in that situation I certainly think of entrusting this task to anyone else.

For this reason, the interview by dr. Emanuele Di Castro that should have been a part of the book, remained incomplete; I’m sorry for this, being well aware of the Maurizio’s state I should have separated the two works; but I never could have imagined that also dr. Emanuele Di Castro would have left us and, for this reason, I would have no more time to complete what he had at heart. I cannot hide the bitterness that afflicts me for this failure to conclude and for not having realized his wish; when he phoned me last time to ask if there was any news regarding the publication I couldn’t but postpone it again, while he, on the other side of the wire, couldn’t tell me that we would not be able to complete the commitment. “Dear dr.

Emanuele Di Castro, I am sorry to have disappointed you, but you know how much I cared for this work and hoped to complete it, having always admired you and your important silent contribution.”

Paolo Del Bianco

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ANNIVERSARY OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FONDAZIONE ROMUALDO DEL BIANCO - BOOK OF MEMORIES

ВВЕДЕНИЕ Цель данной публикации - представить некоторые воспоминания Экспертов Фонда в знак памяти о нашей совместной деятельности в течение этих лет; это подарок всем тем, кто сопровождал нас в этом приключении, начатом 14 сентября 1991 года с ударом молотка Пьетро Канната по стопе Давида. Эти воспоминания помогают нам оценить опыт Фонда с точки зрения различных перспектив. Важно помнить, что когда мы начали этот путь, Берлинская стена пала всего несколько месяцев назад и наши сознания были пронизаны огромной уверенностью в возможностях объединенного мира, поистине нового и без угрозы атомной катастрофы. Это повреждение стопы Давида вызвало в нас любопытный вопрос: перед лицом такого разрушения, какие эмоции возникнут у тех, кто жил при режиме Советского Союза и Советского Блока, и у тех, кто живет на Западе? Нам казалось, что мы могли ответить на этот вопрос даже без проведения дополнительных исследований, так как в то время как на Западе эта новость стала одной из многих, в бывших коммунистических странах, в которых ценности хранились в запечатанном виде как в герметической упаковке, эта новость была повсеместно воспринята как оскорбление. Таким образом, эта публикация является ценным свидетельством об искреннем участии всех друзей и экспертов Фонда, которые на самом деле его представляют, в то время как –и я не устану это подчеркиватьПрезидент является всего лишь его координатором, более или менее занятым, более или менее внимательным, более или менее изобретательным, более или менее активным, но все же только координатором. В заключение этой публикации мы приводим интервью, к сожалению не полное, с просьбой о котором ко мне обратился коллега др. Эмануэль Ди Кастро из Рима, с которым я познакомился по рабочим причинам; сегодня я больше не могу его называть просто коллегой, так как он был особенным коллегой, настоящим другом, близким мне в важные моменты, в особенности в 2003 году, и он помог моим размышлениям над возможностями развития и правильного использования человеческих ресурсов. К его удивлению, в 2013 году он встретился со мной уже не в качестве предпринимателя, а Президента Фонда Ромуальдо Дель БьянкоLife Beyond Tourism; он попросил меня дать ему интервью, и я подумал, что это интервью могло бы войти в публикацию, работу над которой я поручил Маурицио Босси, Советнику Фонда по Институциональным Отношениям; Маурицио работал тогда над публикацией, посвященной истории Фонда, основанной на выдержках из этих воспоминаниях, собранных при помощи его мастерства в единый рассказ. В заключение публикации были бы представлены также все воспоминания в полном виде. Книга должна была подразделяться в соответствии с фазами истории Фонда и этапами предпринимательской деятельности его создателя и основателя, автора этих строк: 1975 Гостеприимство Начало туристско-гостиничной деятельности Паоло Дель Бьянко, создателя и основателя Фонда, совместно с членами его семьи 1991 Встречи и ‘Дань Флоренции’, ‘Искусство в нашем Сердце’ и ‘Стань частью Истории’ Начало деятельности по повышению эмоциональной вовлеченности гостей отелей 1993 Приглашение во Флоренцию Рассылка более 60 приглашений для пребывания во Флоренции в соответственное количество университетов в Странах бывшего Советского Союза и Советского Блока. Так начинается большая мечта: приглашать мир во Флоренцию для познания и уважения к разнообразию и для содействия межкультурному диалогу.

1996

Поездка в Тбилиси

1996

Поездка в Польшу, Краков и Варшаву

1996-97 Приглашения во Флоренцию 1998

Создание Фонда Ромуальдо Дель Бьянко®

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BOOK OF MEMORIES - ANNIVERSARY OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FONDAZIONE ROMUALDO DEL BIANCO

2006 Из Флоренции, с Флоренцией Аудиториум аль Дуомо, не превращение в продукт рынка, а Передовая Практика для миссии диалога (размышление Проф. Антонио Паолуччи, Главного Инспектора Государственных Музеев Флоренции и бывшего Министра Культурного и Природного Наследия Итальянской Республики).

2007 С Наследием, для Наследия Огромные возможности за рамками туризма, далеко за рамками туризма, Life Beyond Tourism 2013 Приоритет межличностных отношений Палаццо Коппини – еще одна передовая практика с его Международным Центром Исследований и Встреч, вместо уже зарегистрированной исторической резиденции. К сожалению, Советник, Друг и Учитель Маурицио Босси дал нам важнейший урок спокойного принятия решений природы, показав также пример своей внутренней силы и решимости в борьбе с заболеванием; поэтому он не смог завершить эту публикацию, и в этой ситуации я конечно же не мог даже подумать о том, чтобы поручить эту работу кому-нибудь другому. Поэтому интервью др. Эмануэля Ди Кастро, которое должно было стать частью этой книги, осталось незаконченным; мне очень жаль, и зная о состоянии здоровья друга Маурицио, я возможно должен был бы найти другой способ, чтобы завершить ее; но я никогда бы не мог подумать, что также др. Эмануэль Ди Кастро покинет нас и что у меня не останется времени на завершение того, что было дорого его сердцу. Я не могу скрыть горечи, сокрушающей меня за эти незавершенные дела и за невыполнение его желания; когда он в последний раз позвонил мне, чтобы узнать есть ли новости касательно публикации, я в очередной раз отложил ее, в то время как он, на другой стороне провода, не смог предупредить меня о том, что мы не сможем завершить начатое. “Дорогой др. Эмануэль Ди Кастро, мне очень жаль, что я разочаровал Вас, но Вы хорошо знаете, насколько высоко я ценил и уважал Вас и Ваш важный безмолвный труд.” Паоло Дель Бьянко

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ANNIVERSARY OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FONDAZIONE ROMUALDO DEL BIANCO - BOOK OF MEMORIES

GULNARA ABDRASILOVA Kazakh Leading Academy of Architecture and Construction

We are associated with Foundation Romualdo del Bianco invisibly, but with strong threads of friendship.

Sometimes, unexpected events happen such as a riptide that will hold a human being and change their course of life and carry them to new horizons.

One of these events for me was the familiarization with the Romualdo del Bianco Foundation and personally meeting with their leader, Mr. Paolo Del Bianco. It happened at an international conference in Florence in December 2008.

The name of our city Almaty in Kazakh language means "apple" and it is a symbol of apples. So, I brought big red apples to Florence as a gift for Paolo Del Bianco. Mr. Del Bianco was so excited!

Before this meeting I knew about the Foundation from my colleagues professors, yet meeting in person opened the world of Romualdo del Bianco Foundation for me.

On the basis of the organization lies a world of striking altruism, philanthropy and a desire to improve the world.

It is practical, rather than a simple declaration of well-known principles. It arouses a deep respect and encourages cultural and educational effectiveness of activities within the Foundation.

With the collapse of global social and political systems in 1990’s the Foundation offered support to young Soviet professionals and made a huge contribution in preserving the stability in professional areas of these countries.

More than 100,000 days of cultural dialogue and promotional works over the years on every continent - is the colossal work of employees of Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation - real enthusiasts who promote the ideals of the world, kindness, preservation of cultural heritage!

For example, from our Kazakh Leading Academy Architecture and Civil Engineering (KazGASA, Kazakhstan) during the period of cooperation with the Foundation, several professors participated in events in Italy and other countries. Our students remember , with pleasure, workshops in Florence. KazGASA graduate Koyshanbayev Nurlan entered the contest «Degree and Profession» (Azerbaijan, 2009) and was the winner who was awarded an internship in Florence. The internship in Italy was a good springboard for the professional development of Nurlan, and he recently defended his PhD thesis in the field of Architecture.

For me personally the Foundation activities gave me the possibility for international contacts and I have found new friends – architects, critics and historians. We, the students and faculty of KazGASA, are glad that we are members of the community united by Romualdo del Bianco Foundation. Thanks to the activities of the Foundation international contacts of our Academy flourished and we have found friends in different countries.

Every academic year we look forward to the new activities of the Foundation such as conferences, festivals, workshops, that have become an integral part of the lives of young architects in Kazakhstan.

It is autumn . . . from the windows the audience can see falling of yellow leaves from the trees, on the horizon glistening snow-capped mountains, on a desk scattered red apples. At the desk bowed several students of the Department of Architecture of KazGASA as they are in a hurry to finish their projects, because one of these days they are going to Florence to a workshop organized by the Romualdo Del Bianco.

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BOOK OF MEMORIES - ANNIVERSARY OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FONDAZIONE ROMUALDO DEL BIANCO

CRISTINA ACIDINI Soprintendenza per il Patrimonio Storico, Artistico ed Etnoantropologico e per il Polo Museale della città di Firenze

Ho avuto il piacere di seguire le attività della Fondazione Romualdo Del Bianco prima che essa stessa avesse una propria esistenza, formalizzata e strutturata. Vale a dire nel tempo in cui l’amico Paolo Del Bianco, con Giovanna e la famiglia intera, cominciò a intensificare la propria straordinaria attività di “creatore di ponti” culturali e amicali tra Firenze e l’Italia dall’un lato, e dall’altro lato paesi che ora la globalizzazione rende più accessibili, ma che solo qualche lustro fa erano remoti in senso geografico e antropologico, dall’Est europeo appena liberato dalla Cortina di Ferro, all’Asia profonda, all’Estremo Oriente.

L’umanità, la saggezza, la dedizione dei Del Bianco hanno costruito una fitta rete di dialoghi basati sulla generosità dell’accoglienza personale e diretta, che ha dato e sta dando frutti da quando la Fondazione ha consentito di allargare e consolidare i rapporti internazionali. Al tempo stesso, l’attività della Fondazione raccoglie e mette a frutto le iniziative assunte da Paolo Del Bianco anche nel campo della condivisione della tutela e della valorizzazione dei beni culturali del nostro territorio, dagli Uffizi – cuore del sistema museale fiorentino - ai centri periferici della “grande Firenze”: sono molteplici le iniziative, quali mostre o restauri, che lo hanno visto impegnato in un sostegno perfettamente integrato, grazie alla sensibilità che gli è propria, con gli indirizzi e le finalità delle istituzioni pubbliche.

Volentieri ho partecipato e partecipo, per quanto possibile, alle iniziative della Fondazione, che danno spesso luogo a momenti pubblici di alta qualità: ricordo, fra i tanti casi possibili, i numerosi convegni internazionali tenuti nella prestigiosa sede dell’Auditorium Il Duomo (frutto, fra l’altro, di un restauro e riuso intelligente che ha rivitalizzato un isolato di gran pregio in ubicazione strategica tra la Cattedrale e la Stazione, di fronte a Santa Maria Maggiore), convegni che hanno visto organizzazioni internazionali come ICOMOS e UNESCO prende parte attiva a questi incontri fiorentini. I programmi culturali della Fondazione, d’altra parte, mantengono in essere una positiva interazione con i musei statali del Polo fiorentino, dei quali ho la responsabilità e la guida dal 2006. La serie dei “Costume Colloquium”, ad esempio, ha visto in ruolo di grande rilevanza la Galleria del Costume di palazzo Pitti.

Mentre tante anche prestigiose istituzioni attraversano momenti di crisi che comportano una riduzione dell’attività, vedo nelle solide basi della Fondazione Romualdo Del Bianco le condizioni favorevoli non solo per una continuazione a lungo termine delle sue numerose e diverse iniziative, ma anche per lo sviluppo di nuove linee di “buone pratiche” grazie alle quali, all’insegna di una stretta collaborazione fra le istituzioni pubbliche e il settore privato, il mondo che crede nella cultura e lavora per essa sia sempre più unito e collegato.

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ANNIVERSARY OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FONDAZIONE ROMUALDO DEL BIANCO - BOOK OF MEMORIES

GIULI ALASANIA Tbilisi State University / University of Georgia

In contemporary world where individualism is the main characteristic of the West and the rest of the universe slowly assumes the same, posture, an urgent issue is to surmount personal solitude, estrangement and isolationism. Various associations, international alliances are created to not only formulate main principles of world order, but control them as well. But ascertained rules of these associations and alliances are not universal and they are acceptable for just one certain part of the world.

The remaining part lives with such a different order, due to many various reasons, including dissimilar values, that on a local and global level a constantly contradiction frequently leads to an open conflict and slaughter. International mafia alliances, corruption, poverty, ignorance still remain as an incurable disease. Despite the achieved high level of communication in the world, the transnational crime exists together with an intense fair of everything unfamiliar and alien.

Different people, the representatives of different traditions and cultures in various parts of world began to think how to solve this problem. In 1998, in Istanbul a non-governmental organization "Dialogue Eurasia Platform" was established inspired by the ideas of Turkish leader Fethullah Gulen. I, as a member of organization board, as well as a leader of existed department of this association in Georgia, continually took part in meetings and activities with the participants from other countries.

The major goal was maintain a dialogue between cultures and ensure peaceful coexistence in world. These meetings did not resemble those scientific conferences I used to participate before. But, particular importance of these kind of activities was fairly clear to me.

Five years ago I attended a similar meeting in Florence, initiated and organized by Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation .

Most noticeable fact was that this Foundation as well as the organization itself I collaborated with, was established in 1998.

It’s activities started with tourism, unified 5 hotels in one system (1981) - VIVAHOTELS (432 rooms). From there these activities expanded and gained a new content. I learned about Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation from Leila Khubashvili - professor at Iv. Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University who collaborated with it from the day it was established. Soon after I was introduced to Paolo Del Bianco - a founder of the foundation, president and axis, his wife, children, grandchildren, whole family that consists not only of immediate members of the family, but of every chief of the foundation. These people live with the life of the foundation, they have the most noble goals - to connect the representatives of different past, culture and traditions; to construct a bridge of collaboration and friendship between them; to consolidate them around values; to make a world safe; to show everyone that it is possible to preserve an unity merely with variety. Paolo named the foundation after his father - a famous businessman and patron who originally owned hotels in Florence. Nowadays, this business is in the service of the foundation.

I remember I was surprised by an unlimited energy, bright eyes and goodwill towards everyone, as well as the phenomenal memory of Paolo Del Bianco, which preserves even a smallest favor ever extended by anyone to him. Paolo is a real leader.

The world stood and stands by such leaders. We became friends. Later I became a member of the foundation board, in 2013 I was awarded with a foundation medal for doing my bit in a cultural dialogue.

This well-educated person with a right view, refined humor, open in human relations and prodigiously tolerant is very firm in protecting his values. Respecting other's opinion, Paolo strives not to overwhelm you with his ideas, but his enthusiasm is very contagious. At the very first meeting he impresses you and makes you a part of his world. Certainly, I was surprised to hear that the idea of creating this foundation was born in Tbilisi. Paolo at each meeting underlines the fact that the foundation is a result of Tbilisi meetings. He often mentions Mr. Roin Metreveli, Mr. Tamaz Kandareli, Mr. Temur Kobakhidze with gratitude. In the annual conferences the participation of Georgians is quite catchy. It is not accidental that Paolo Del Bianco was awarded Honoris Causa by Iv. Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University and Academy of Arts, Tbilisi City Hall chose him as Honorary Citizen of Tbilisi, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II presented him the Cross of St. Nino that Mr. Paolo wears with his christening cross. Iv. Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, as well as Academy of Arts are beautified by a bust of Leonardo Da Vinci performed by De Rennie using particular cararra marble ordered by Paolo. The foundation not only invites Georgians to participate in different conferences but organizes forums dedicated to Georgia, its culture, past and present. It is significant that in 2012 a memorandum was signed with Tbilisi City Hall and a portal "Life Beyond Tourism" was presented.

In very difficult post war 2008 for Georgia a Georgian culture week was held in Florence with the initiative and support of the Foundation of Romualdo Del Bianco. The representatives from different countries took part in it. During one week in

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BOOK OF MEMORIES - ANNIVERSARY OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FONDAZIONE ROMUALDO DEL BIANCO

the center of the world culture - in Florence, citizens of Italy or guests could familiarize themselves with the works of Georgian painters, taste Georgian cuisine, listen to Georgian polyphonic music performed by Georgian singers, watch Georgian movies, receive information about the history and the present of Georgia, attend a scientific conference on different issues.

Themes presented at the conference were published later. Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation organized similar days for other cultures as well. It is significant, that with the assistant of Mr. Paolo, professors of University of Florence took part in our planned activities. Meetings were organized with a famous medievalist Prof. Franco Cardini, with the deputy Mayor of Florence and with the rector of University of Florence. The foundation organized conferences with my co-supervising in 2012-2013: "European Security and Caucasus" and "Caucasian Landscape: Cultural Inheritance and Identity".

The interest of Paolo is very wide, it encompasses the whole world. Japan, Philippines, Russia, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Romania, Ukraine - it is not a complete list of the countries which participated in conferences together with me. Here, everyone is one family. Due to peculiar characteristics of the host everybody feels free as if at their home. I visited his home, Paolo visited mine as well. We, his friends, feel that he has such a feeling reserved only for us. But no. A warm relation is spread to everyone equally.

At our first meeting a cooperation with Shota Rustaveli National Scientific Foundation was signed. After that our collaboration grew step by step. A protocol for cooperation was signed with two universities which I am directly involved with: International Black Sea University - I am a vice rector of it, and University of Georgia - I am a founder and a chairman of the Board of Trustees there. The foundation has signed a mutual collaboration memorandum with the Tbilisi State University where I am a professor. After that the professors and students of these universities have taken part in conferences held in Florence. Unlike other MOUs, these ones signed with the foundation, doesn’t remain just on a paper. Here the collaboration is always . in the stage of implementation.

The main addressee of the foundation’s activities is youth. Its motto is "for peace in the world, among young people of different countries, through culture meeting, getting acquainted, understanding each other to develop friendship among peoples". During a year leaders of Romualdo Del Binaco foundation organize student conferences several times. Students from different countries participate in these conferences and competitions. Winners receive awards, organize exhibitions, discuss urgent problems.

The foundation activities focus on culture. ICONOS participates almost at every conference; the foundation collaborates with UNESCO. Often the discussion evolves around the conservation and restoration of cultural monuments. According to the concept drown up by Paolo - "Life beyond tourism", during the conference participants were (or will be) introduced to this splendid part of Italy, visited (or will visit) museums guided by the best professionals who are Paolo's friends, collaborators and like-minded people. In these activities the City Hall plays a role also. It is significant, that in these activities the main place is taken by a presentation of new projects and different books, published in Georgian as well. I attended many such presentations. Once I even was a reviewer of a book "Roman Pontifexes and Their Epoch", written by Prof. Leila Khubashvili.

Connection of different cultures and people is not only daily job for Paolo Del Bianco and the members of this group, but a life style and passion as well. We, the members of his family, are happy that we are part of his life.

On May 8, 2013 an inauguration of Palazzo Coppini international meetings and learning centre was held. At the XVI century palace of great historical value, which Paolo acquired specifically for these activities, there are conference halls and library, where you can find works of different scientists in various areas of science and art.

A well deserved acknowledgment of the foundation was a Columbus Award – “Arts, science, initiative" presented to Mr. Paolo on October 12, 2013. This award is given annually to celebrate the distinguished people, among them Nobel prize winners, as "Builders of civilizations".

Today, Mr. Paolo Del Bianco and members of the foundation established by him, continue a time-honored tradition of the best children of Florence. Paolo's grandchild, by the way, is named after one of the most distinguished of those children Cosimo de' Medici. We hope he will continue the traditions as well as each member of the family.

Passed 15 years of the foundation were very productive. Today Romualdo Del Bianco's activities have become a great movement that is spread throughout the world. I wish the foundation and its founder - dear Paolo long life and prosperity for his family. But what is equally important, I wish him great luck not only for his family, not only for Italy, but for the welfare of the humankind.

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ANNIVERSARY OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FONDAZIONE ROMUALDO DEL BIANCO - BOOK OF MEMORIES

LARISSA ALEKSEEVA Perm National Research University

THE CENTRE OF GRAVITY Jubilees are good occasions to get into reminiscences and into future perspectives. In 2009 on the initiative of Olga Karpova, vice Rector of Ivanovo State University, I was invited to take part in students’ workshop as a group leader. I was told that it would be a great project, which aim was to promote and encourage cultural direct links with institutions of higher education in different countries, increasing the network of contacts of the Romualdo del Bianco Foundation. With this perspective a group of students from Perm State University came to Florence at the invitation of the Foundation.

A few words about our location. The city of Perm is situated in the Ural mountains about 4 000 km away from Florence. It is a very peculiar land, comparing to Florence. It was christened in the XVI century, when Italy had already passed into the epoch of the Renaissance. Now Perm is a great civilized city, which is the first eastern large city in Europe. Perm University, founded in 1916, is the first higher educational institution in the Urals.

I adopted the idea of participating in the project, organized by the Foundation and Ivanonovo State University, connected with the possibility to study the cultural heritage of Florence. This is the way I found myself in Florence. I feel I was in a different territory, in a new and different world.

This event was connected not only with a certain scientific lexicographical issue, but was the beginning of long last international links with the Romualdo del Bianco Foundation. Moreover, it was a beautiful spring with a fine weather. We came to Florence and immediately understood the etymology of this name. Everything was in blossom.

Florence is a specific city, since it has a very clear expressionism, that is, buildings, sculptures, pictures. This is the city for the eye. And the Centre of gravity.

In Russia, the study of cultural and historical layers of lexicon has far going traditions and methodology. The possibility to take part in the compiling of a special type of dictionary seemed to be very attractive, since it might deal with peculiar, unique and always fresh data. I realize that the cognitive aspect of such kind of a task is rather important and actual for lexicography. It is clear that research of Florence is aimed at the analysis of traces left by this city in the world writings. That was one of the primary tasks of the “Dictionary without Boundaries”, which was based on what people say or believe about Florence. In other words, we had to create primary cultural text about Florence.

According to the project, the students’ task was to compile an electronic version of a Dictionary for guides and tourists. It is a unique project, which has no analogous in Russia. We came to Florence, because it became clear to us that to write such an opus, it is necessary not only to contact Florence and Florentines, but also to deepen into Florentine life.

My students were involved into the idea of the project with great interest; they felt that they were establishing connections between people and cultural tradition, playing the role of mediators. The students taking part in the workshop learn to keep integrity during their work. They learn not only how to describe events, but also to penetrate into their depth.

It happened so, that our impressions of Florence were formed through the particularly acute lens of the Foundation’s system of values. Taking part into the events suggested by the Foundation, we were continually aware of being in direct contact with the rich historical past and historical traditions of the Renaissance.

The greatest pleasure of those days was the meeting with Paolo del Bianco. Our meeting has coloured my life ever since.

He came to the opening ceremony of the workshop. Later I came to know that he personally took part in the opening and closing ceremonies with nice traditions.

Paolo del Bianco is an accomplished and profound public speaker. He talked with pleasure showing his fantastic passion and respect for the young audience. His speech was a great stimulus for us to work for the benefit of cross-cultural dialogue.

Most important are his attitudes toward Florence, toward human relation, and toward the role of man in culture and society.

Paolo believes that the land of birth is precious and has been entrusted to its people for safe-keeping, and must be passed to descendants. By his personal experience, he shows the students how to pick out the roots of man’s own ancestry. Paolo teaches us that the deeper we go into the past, the more likely we continue its traditions in future.

Our talks with Paolo took a regular character and covered much wider topics than compiling dictionaries. I was very glad that Paolo revealed his sincere interest in people’s life, their every day problems, as well as in the history and culture. How-

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BOOK OF MEMORIES - ANNIVERSARY OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FONDAZIONE ROMUALDO DEL BIANCO

ever, the most part of our talks were devoted to the future development of the Foundation.

A keen observer, he is always impressed by simple detail of common talk. I know that Paolo gets much involved in the Russian art. He said that Russian people are successful in expressing their insight most fully in the arts. That is why I often present him with albums of Russian painting.

My first impressions of Paolo are still very strong and clear in my memory. He is full of energy, and at the same time very curious and with deep insight. In his work, he is moving quickly enough to get substantial results. His activity demands an extraordinary level of personal investment. He exhibits intense and passionate commitment in everything. His most salient personal qualities are erudition, sense of humour, and kindness.

Paolo travels all his life. It seems, that he knows all about the countries he visits. During the last decade, Paolo has made several trips to Russia, including Siberia territory. While traveling extensively, he gained valuable experience and knowledge, which is very helpful for his further projects. While a guest in Russia he spoke about the Foundation, past and future, emphasizing the role of cultural contacts with Russian cities. He always provides a road map for further activity.

He has developed a wonderful philosophy of the foundation, where every idea and proposal is valuable, no matter where and who it comes from. He is more of a philosopher than almost any person in the Foundation.

In addition to being the president of the Foundation, Paolo del Bianco is one of the most influential leaders in Florence.

During our stays in Florence, we were invited as guests to various social events connected with intercultural contacts and witnessed his importance for the city.

Paolo’s interest in the links with Russian students was derived from his concern with issues about the cultural links and friendship of young people. He loves young people who devote their lives to serving culture and knowledge.

My friendly relations with the Foundation developed very quickly, thanks to the sincerity and openheartedness of all the members of the Foundation. Friendly atmosphere was among all the people, who worked at the Foundation. They were full of optimism concerning the future of the Foundation. I was invited to the Foundation four more times as the leader of Perm group of students. In such a way, an invaluable period for me connected with the Foundation began in my life.

In 2013, the Foundation put forward the idea to organize the first International Scientific conference in Heritage Lexicography. The conference’s name was “Life beyond Dictionaries”. The trends of the conference integrate language, semiotics, nature and culture.

A special place in my recollection is given to the events of 2010, connected with rather a long and tiresome delay of our return home due to the volcanic emissions. Comprehending the hopelessness of the situation, we had to stay in Florence and wait for the clean sky. We had not a happy mood. During all this period, our colleagues from the Foundation were with us, encouraging and supporting us.

All the years round we are in regular correspondence with the Foundation. Each year we are guests of the Foundation.

The Romualdo del Bianco Foundation is not an office, not a body, but a developing organism, which is growing quantitatively and territorially. What is more important, it develops conceptually. It is a special place on the globe, which attracts people to work together for the sake of cultural future.

The Foundation has received wide recognition in Italy and Russia for its activity, and catches the attention of many various people; and there is general agreement among them that this is a place on the globe with nice people of major talent and importance.

The Romualdo del Bianco Foundation discharges their responsibility to society by fulfilling human duty with uninhibited truthfulness. The Foundation works with people of all ages and transcends national boundaries. It appeals to universal ethical and cultural values. With the help of the Foundation, my students learn to get knowledge, to provoke their sympathy to other people, and to raise the level of their awareness, especially regarding matters of national heritage.

We know the main purpose of the Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation, connected with the contribution to the process of “Intercultural Dialogue” with the knowledge of the “Diversity of Cultural Expressions” and of the “Traditional Knowledge”; their activity is connected with the contribution to the “awareness of the conservation of Cultural and Natural Heritage”. In my view, this guideline is an honorable international mission of the Foundation.

We leave and beauty stays. Beauty is eternal. I link the perspectives and the future of the Romualdo del Bianco Foundation with the following. Taking care of the historical heritage beatifies its future. This action will make Florence the eternal place of beauty on the globe.

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ANNIVERSARY OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FONDAZIONE ROMUALDO DEL BIANCO - BOOK OF MEMORIES

BÓNA ISTVÁN DR. HABIL Hungarian Academy of Fine Art MY MEMORIES ABOUT THE STUDENT’S WORKSHOPS ORGANIZED BY THE ROMUALDO DEL BIANCO FOUNDATION One day a young art historian, Pattantyús Manga appeared in our department, the Conservation/ Restoration Department of the Hungarian Academy of Fine Arts. She has worked that time at the Monument Protection Authority, and she had a direct connection with the Slovakian colleagues, namely with Mrs Pinciková. Pinciková invited her to join a student workshop in 2001, between the 5-12th of February. Manga wanted to ask one of my colleagues to join her and organize together a Hungarian group of students for the workshop. My colleague didn’t show any interest. Somehow I got the information and soon answered positively to Manga. I haven’t even heard about her and the Foundation before, but we agreed the participation, and had a perfect cooperation from the first second.

The workshop proved to be perfect, the students has gained a lifelong experience in Florence. Since then two of them are teachers in art universities and finished their doctoral programmes. Really a good start!

Understanding the importance of this opportunity, I decided to take as many students to the workshops as possible. It was not very difficult, since I met wonderful colleagues there, excellent relationships developed during the next workshops, and step by step I started to understand the aims and the working style of the Foundation. I tried out myself as a project leader also. It was an enormous work, but on the other hand it gave a lot of positive experience for me.

Actually, considering my professional position within the University, I didn’t gain anything with this activity in Florence.

My colleagues and bosses considered me as a fool, who for some silly reason sometimes go to Florence with some students.

They practically understood nothing about the importance of the student’s mobility, and the experiences gained by them during the international workshops. It has still no any influence on the education in my university at all.

The students had a perfectly different opinion. A lot of them told me after graduation, that the week in Florence was the most valuable part of their five years of education. I must agree with them.

Of course, the experience I gained for myself is absolutely invaluable. I have learnt so much during these weeks like in a second university. And I built everything in my educational programme, in my presentations. I am sure, that the level of my teaching work is far higher now, than before the workshops. But it is absolutely private, my business, no one cares…

Unfortunately the changes in the circumstances meant, that we had to stop the participation on the workshops. My small university never gave any support or help for the participation, partly because they didn’t understand the importance of it. As the economy broke down, the situation went worse; we lost all of our hope. But still, I remember positively for these years, since I always knew, it can’t be like this forever. I mainly consider how many young people had an opportunity to cooperate with students of different countries in Florence. The number is impressive…

Of course I never gave up going on with the cooperation, but the circumstances are not favourable at the moment.

For architects, art historians, artists and conservators is a must to go to Florence or some other important heritage place in Italy. I am sure that some profession can’t be done in a properly high level if the professionals haven’t had a good overview on their heritage. I have seen how the young people changed day by day after the guided tours by their teachers. The presence of the teacher is absolutely important. Without their teachers the students benefit far less of the trips, than with a high level professional guidance.

I think we can’t be grateful enough for the Foundation, and Mr. Paolo Del Bianco for these unique opportunities!

We have to mention Mr. Del Bianco’s beautiful family, and the coordinators of the workshops: on the first place Mr. Simone Giometti.

THANK YOU!!!

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BOOK OF MEMORIES - ANNIVERSARY OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FONDAZIONE ROMUALDO DEL BIANCO

GIANNI CARIDI Imprenditore Alberghiero Fiorentino

Ho conosciuto Paolo Del Bianco circa 30 anni fa. Quando Paolo faceva l’imprenditore alberghiero. All’inizio mi sembrò che lo facesse come tanti altri ma dopo averlo conosciuto meglio mi accorsi subito che, rispetto a molti suoi colleghi, aveva una marcia in più. E non era una marcia solo rivolta al business ma era una marcia anche rivolta al sociale, alla comunione tra le persone, a fini mutualistici, tendente a riconoscere nelle persone il loro lato migliore. Fù lui ad ideare e attuare la prima cooperativa di servizi alberghieri che tanto lavoro ha dato, e tutt’ora dà, a quelli, che all’epoca, erano extracomunitari. E’ stato Presidente della prima cooperativa di lavoro tra gli albergatori Fiorentini che non si occupava solo di riempire camere ma che spaziava dall’aggiornamento professionale al contributo in opere e attività a favore della città.

Con questo carattere e questo atteggiamento era inevitabile che Paolo un bel giorno lasciasse la sua attività di albergatore passare in secondo piano e si cimentasse in qualcosa di più impegnativo, ma anche di maggiormente utile alla società.

Ecco nascere la Fondazione Romualdo Del Bianco in onore ed in memoria del padre che tanto si adoperò, dopo la liberazione, per la ricostruzione di parte della città distrutta dagli eventi bellici.

Nella Fondazione Paolo si è impegnato come nessun altro, coinvolgendovi anche tutti i suoi familiari, e non solo, ma anche varie ed importanti personalità Fiorentine.

Ha utilizzato i suoi alberghi per sostenere numerose attività culturali Fiorentine ed Internazionali, queste ultime tutte indirizzate verso i giovani affinchè la conoscenza tra di loro fosse indirizzata all’amicizia tra i popoli di diversa estrazione e provenienza, con una particolare attenzione a coloro provenienti dall’Est Europa e dai paesi una volta in orbita sovietica.

Avendolo seguito costantemente in questi ultimi 30 anni posso affermare che la Fondazione Romualdo Del Bianco da lui costituita, Presieduta e diretta ha fatto confluire a Firenze migliaia di giovani stranieri che hanno imparato a conoscersi e ad apprezzarsi ed, in contemporanea, a conoscere ed apprezzare l’ospitalità ed i beni culturali Fiorentini.

Ma desidero qui ricordare anche un’altra attività che Paolo con i suoi alberghi ha voluto attivare: l’acquisto e, quindi, la cessione gratuita agli ospiti dei suoi alberghi di ingressi nei musei Fiorentini tra quelli meno conosciuti della città e, pertanto, con maggiori necessità economiche. Uno tra tutti il museo della casa natale di Dante Alighieri.

Da qualche anno Paolo Del Bianco stà sostenendo anche un nuovo modo di fare turismo. Un turismo più consapevole, più sostenibile che vada più a fondo dei valori spirituali dell’uomo e che gli insegni ad apprezzare e godere di tutte le attività umane e culturali che oggi, se sapute vedere, si porgono alla nostra attenzione ed al nostro modo di essere persone consapevoli.

Ecco quindi nascere LIFE BEYOND TOURISM. Ecco quindi nascere Palazzo Coppini e l’Auditorium Al Duomo che anziché diventare luoghi di commercio sono stati adibiti allo scambio di culture, di esperienze e di rapporti umani tra le persone e tra le persone, l’ambiente circostante e l’eredità culturali che ognuno di noi,nelle varie nazioni, ha ricevuto da chi ci ha preceduto.

Credo che a Paolo vada il nostro più sentito ringraziamento non solo per quanto ha fatto fin’ora e per la parte di vita che vi ha dedicato ma per quello che farà e per la parte di vita che ancora dedicherà alle sue attività ed alla sua Fondazione per il bene di tutti noi.

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ANNIVERSARY OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FONDAZIONE ROMUALDO DEL BIANCO - BOOK OF MEMORIES

DÁVID CˇÁRSKY Academy of Fine Arts and Design Bratislava

The initial contact took place back in 2001, when we were approached by the FONDAZIONE ROMUALDO DEL BIANCO with a generous offer. At that time I was serving as Vice-Rector for International Relations at VŠVU, the Academy of Fine Arts and Design Bratislava (AFAD), while still teaching a course “Drawing for Art Conservators” for students of its Department of Conservation and Restoration. Together with my senior colleague Professor L’udovít Hološka we have selected a number of our students to take part in the international workshop “The Influence of Italian Mediaeval Frescos: A Project for their Conservation”, which took place in Florence. The event was a great success, both for its spirit of international cooperation, as well as for its artistic and academic merits. Thus together with our peer institutions from other countries we have contributed to the noble mission of the host organization.

Following that first workshop, and owing a great deal to the personal involvement of Paolo Del Bianco, Dott. Simone Giometti, and others, the AFAD has established standard ties with the FONDAZIONE. Since then there were several occasions of close cooperation, dozens of AFAD students and several of its faculty members involved. I had the honor to participate as a teacher once again, in the year 2004. This time the international workshop was titled “From Masaccio to Marini, Heritage of Figurative Visual Art”. I continue to teach a specialized drawing course at AFAD. My students are supposed to demonstrate remarkable artistic talent and technical skills in draftsmanship, the assignments of my drawing courses have been created consciously for the training of future art conservators. In conservation and restoration it is imperative that the distinct technical knowledge is in balance with the artistic talent. To be able to face the most difficult tasks equipped with the facility of a skilled visual artist, when considering the specific character of a conservation department within a traditional art academy, our student has to go through a rather “classical” form of studio training in drawing. The historically approved system of gradual intensifying of the difficulty level of single assignments, with the emphasis on composition, perspective, volume, shape, basic knowledge of human anatomy, and, above all, the proportions, is aimed in the direction of mastering the studio projects with confidence. Of priority is the use of traditional approaches, techniques, and media. The participation in the activities of the FONDAZIONE has had a significant impact on our students and faculty, and has contributed to their academic and professional development. On top of that, they have had a unique opportunity to encounter international teamwork, they have found new friends, potential partners for future expert cooperation in the specialized field of art conservation on a university level, but also beyond the sphere of academe. In several cases, the unique experience in Florence has motivated our students to seek possibilities to study art conservation in Italy and in other countries in Europe, and in the USA. Thus they are bringing home valuable knowledge and skills acquired at the facilities of our esteemed partner institutions abroad. Some of our FONDAZIONE “alumni” are at present already well educated and successful art conservators, further, by utilizing and disseminating the valuable information they actively contribute to the noble effort of preserving the rich cultural heritage of our region.

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THE FOUNDATION'S EXPERTS AT THE COMMISSION TO PRESERVE NATIONAL MONUMENTS OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA THE CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH YOU MET FOR THE FIRST TIME THE FOUNDATION AND THE FIRST IMPRESSIONS The first time representatives of the Commission to Preserve National Monuments of Bosnia and Herzegovina (“the Commission”) met the Florence-based Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation – Life Beyond Tourism was in September 2008.

The aims of the Foundation are complementary to those of the Commission, in that the Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation seeks to promote intercultural dialogue through the advancement of cultural tourism, while the Commission, by implementing Annex 8 of the Peace Agreement for Bosnia and Herzegovina, which relates to the preservation of cultural heritage, is thereby preserving the multiethnic tradition of the country’s war-ravaged society. It was therefore resolved that some form of collaboration between the two institutions should be established.

For this reason, the Commission took part in the Florence International Exchange Festival held in 2008. The Foundation held a round table under the auspices of the Festival, with a view to promoting the values of world cultural heritage and identifying the most effective ways of preserving multicultural tradition. Bosnia and Herzegovina made a significant contribution with its presentation of the country’s multicultural and multiethnic cultural heritage.

Collaboration between the Commission and the Foundation continued in 2011 during the 14th Edition of Mediterranean Exchange of Archaeological Tourism (Borsa mediterranea del turismo archeologico) in Paestum (Salerno) from 17 to 20 November 2011, where Bosnia and Herzegovina had a pavilion. The similar views on unity in cultural diversity held by the Commission and the Foundation’s Paolo Del Bianco and Simone Giometti helped to ensure the successful collaboration between these two institutions. In March 2012 the Foundation and the Commission signed Memorandum of Understanding, to which the Sarajevo City Authority also later became a party.

The impact that the Foundation and its activities have had in your personal and professional life •

access to the Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation website Life Beyond Tourism as an opportunity to give a significant boost to the development of cultural tourism

•

the promotion of cultural tourism in Bosnia and Herzegovina via a global network

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the promotion of cultural institutions, museums, associations and other organizations that have a part of play in the promotion of multiculturalism and unity in diversity

•

the promotion of catering facilities

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attracting increased tourist numbers to less visited areas where there is cultural heritage of great value

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joining a network of institutions and other associations in Bosnia and Herzegovina which aim to develop cultural tourism based on intercultural dialogue

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further education and training of professionals aimed at the promotion of cultural tourism

An overall judgment about what did it mean for you to have known and participated in the Foundation's initiatives The support of international institutions promoting intercultural dialogue is important for a professional institution of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the only one dealing with cultural heritage protection and preservation. Holding round tables such as those held in 2012 and 2013, where issues relating to breakdowns in intercultural dialogue, can help to resolve these problems in traditional multiethnic cities and societies such as Sarajevo and Bosnia and Herzegovina. These seminars provide an opportunity to discuss the problems facing certain societies and to find ways of resolving them. Bosnia and Herzegovina spoke of 26

ANNIVERSARY OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FONDAZIONE ROMUALDO DEL BIANCO - BOOK OF MEMORIES

the threat to the traditional values of common living, reflected in indifference to the status of cultural institutions responsible for the preservation of the country’s multicultural tradition (the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina) and of one of the success stories - the restoration of Sarajevo’s City Hall, a symbol of the city that was all but destroyed during the war, and the National Library housed there, which was totally destroyed by incendiary missiles in 1992. The Commission proposed that a pilot project be launched with the implicit purpose of transcending divisions and encouraging cultural tourism based on intercultural cooperation.

The Commission’s ideas were welcomed at the 2012 international round table of the Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation - Life Beyond Tourism, and these activities were recognized with the award of the Foundation’s bronze medal.

In March 2013, at the next round table, the Commission’s presentation dealt with the 40-year experience of applying international conventions and with cultural heritage as a tool for intercultural dialogue. The fact that architectural symbols of multicultural dialogue such as the Old Bridge in Mostar and the Mehmed Pasha Sokolovic´ Bridge in Višegrad have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and that the historical development and evolution of the City of Sarajevo is a reflection of actual intercultural dialogue, reveals that Bosnia and Herzegovina was a society with a high degree of awareness of its own identity. It was pointed out that such societies, now ravaged by war, are particularly vulnerable to notions of reconstruction based on principles other than those of interculturalism.

The Foundation’s round tables are a forum at which such efforts can be presented, and can also become a focal point from which international attention can be drawn to the crisis of multiethnicity and the right way can be found to resolve the crisis of multiethnic and multicultural cities and societies in the 21st century. It is also very beneficial to attend the final presentations of student projects at the workshops.

Wishes for the future development of our collaboration •

increased activities to present cultural and other institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina through the advancement of intercultural dialogue in collaboration with the Foundation

•

involvement of students from Bosnia and Herzegovina in the workshops held by the Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation - Life Beyond Tourism

•

advancement of research and analysis relating to the state of multiethnic cities and social environments

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ELENA DIMITROVA University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy, Sofia

The political changes in early 1990s opened a period of profound societal restructuring in Eastern Europe – it was a time of difficulties and enthusiasm. We were surely far from anticipating the broadness of the challenges to face – economic but also social and cultural, it was already clear yet that we need to re-conceptualize the Past while building our new path to Future.

I am myself involved in academic teaching and research in the field of urban development where the messages about the continuity of development and the balance needed between preservation and development are of primary importance. In September 2000 an international conference entitled “Heritage: Opportunity or Threat?” was organized in Ohrid, Macedonia. The discussion there focused on the enormous challenges set by heritage protection to the transforming societies of Eastern Europe under the conditions of general economic crisis, a generally retreating public sector, and insufficient expert capacity at the local level. The then missing interaction among experts within Eastern Europe was estimated as a major barrier to exchanging experience and developing region-specific policies and approaches.

At the conference I first met Prof. Milan Prodanovic from the University of Novi Sad and learned about the International Winter Workshops in Florence, initiated by the Romualdo del Bianco Foundation. Prof. Prodanovic was preparing his author’s week in Florence (workshop topic: Reinventing the city), which was focused on the spatial identity of cities in the Balkan region and their cultural links with European cities, Florence in particular. He was eager to organize as broad as possible representation of the regional diversity and he invited us to join in the upcoming workshop in Florence in December.

The generous support of the Foundation who provided free accommodation and meeting facilities for all the CEE participants for one week was crucially important to the universities in the region at a time of considerable financial difficulties for higher education. The chances provided by such an event for both cultural interchange and for coming in touch with the unique heritage of Florence were well estimated by the Faculty of Architecture at the University. A modest travel subsidy by the University enabled a group of eight graduate students in architecture (specializing in heritage protection and urban planning) and two teachers to join in the workshop. My colleague Hristina Staneva and I started preparing for the event as team leaders of the Bulgarian group. Each of the students was expected to prepare and a poster presenting his/her own city of birth at the opening session of the workshop. The group was warmly welcomed by the Foundation President Paolo del Bianco and its Secretary General Simone Giometti. The international student groups formed on-site were to explore the city of Florence, to focus on particular aspects of urban space and morphology, and to agree upon a common message about similarities and peculiarities between Balkan cities and Florence, thus identifying general characteristics of the European city.

Inspired by our experience during the first contact with the Foundation, Hristina and I decided to develop a next project, which applied for being included in the programme. The project was entitled “Coming closer by discovering the unknown: cultural tourism challenges to sustainable spatial development". It aimed at raising young professionals’ awareness on the anticipated challenges of future tourism development in the ‘transition’ countries of Eastern Europe. The importance of promoting the cultural and historic values of a heritage which was then still largely unknown to the world because of the previously existing political division was to be considered in parallel with the vulnerability of heritage in times of political and economic crises.

The project was included in the Winter Workshops program and scheduled for December 2001. When inviting participants to the workshop we first looked for our closest neighbours in the region but also tried to reach colleagues from regions further eastwards. Finally, three student teams – Bulgarian, Armenian and Romanian ones – met and worked enthusiastically together during the week of the workshop (unluckily the invited Turkish and Georgian teams could not make it). The preparatory homework was a chance for the students to investigate and conceptualize their own national cultural heritage as belonging to a broader cultural field. Team working was intentionally put as a central concept in the project – national teams working during the preparatory period and international ones during the workshop in Florence. Numerous new ideas about future development of the project were inspired by the interaction during the workshop. Unfortunately, the untimely death of Hristina Staneva in 2009 interrupted the development of this project and the realization of other ideas.

I participated later on in two more consecutive editions of the Workshop in 2003 and 2004. Our teams were kindly invited

by Prof. Prodanovic to join in his project entitled “The city as an Educational polygon – Smart City, the case of Florence” and always warmly welcomed by the Foundation. These were next chances our University took to involve in the interna-

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tional cultural dialogue also students from the new programme in Urbanism, established in 2002. I have been involved in organizing the participation of about thirty Bulgarian students in the winter workshops in Florence through the years due to the generous support by the Romualdo del Bianco Foundation. I was thus able to witness and also personally take part in the development of the workshop concept with a stronger focus being put on the quality and depth of the process and outcomes.

I am deeply grateful to Paolo del Bianco for the hospitality and for his unceasing energy and enthusiasm to welcome new and new friends in Florence from all over the world. I also highly estimate his strategic thinking about building and strengthening intercultural links that would work for a better world in the long term. I was always happy to witness the excitement of our students when facing for the first time the beauty of Florence, investigating its heritage and trying to understand its vibrant urban energy, and their eagerness to come in touch with the broader Toscana region. It was also deeply encouraging to attend international team working and watch how intellectual curiosity is challenged, how synergy is put to work, and how friendships emerge and grow.

From my personal point of view a major impact of the Foundation’s activities is probably the growing young people’s self-confidence in their capacity for changing the world into a better place according to their own visions for the future.

Meeting Paolo del Bianco and getting involved in the initiatives of the Foundation was also an important and lucky moment on my personal and professional path. The acquaintance and collaboration with Hristina Staneva brought me to ICOMOS-Bulgaria and, later on through that, to broader international contacts in the field of cultural heritage and to the involvement in CIVVIH – the international scientific committee of ICOMOS on historic towns and villages.

I would like to express my deep gratitude to Paolo del Bianco, to Simone Giommetti and the team of Romualdo del Bianco Foundation, and my best wishes to all of them for a long path and the best of success in the field of intercultural communication for a better world. I do believe that for all of us who have once met in Florence due to the Foundation’s vision and activities, coming together has been a fruitful chance for broadening professional and personal horizons, outlining the connectivity of cultural space and empowering us all in re-building the unity of the broader cultural space of Europe.

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VEFA EFENDIZADE Cyprus International University I participated with my students as the representative of the International University of Cyprus, in a conference entitled "Degree and Profession in the University of Construction and Architecture held in Baku in 2008, which is my hometown. I got acquaintance with Mr. Paolo del Bianco and his sympathetic team work in the conference. They invited us to collaborate and participate in their organizations. Therefore, a few months later my students and I participated in a workshop entitled “The Degree and Profession of World Festival organized by the Life Beyond Tourism and Romualdo del Bianco foundation in Florence. Since Italy was the country of my childhood dreams, I had a great time over there. When I was a Fine Arts student at Surikov Academy of Fine Arts in Moscow in the Soviet Union period, our professor Ilya Glazunov, who was a famous painter, took us to Italy, which was one of my biggest dreams in my life. Thus, I had a chance to observe and witness all the paintings of the famous painters and places which I had read in books and dreamed to see from my childhood. I had the chance to experience and touch the spectacular Renaissance art in Florence. I asked myself how all those genius artist such as Filippo Lippi, Filippino Lippi, Botticelli, Giotto, Gozzoli, Piero della Francesca, Masaccio, Donatello, Ghiberti, Brunneleschi, Ghirlandaio, Maso di Banco, Taddeo Gaddi, Michlangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and many others came out in the same place and the same time. Therefore, this journey to Italy had deep effects on my professional life.

Years passed and I traveled to many countries in the world and had the opportunity to visit the world’s famous museums, but none of them gave me the pleasure and the extraordinary energy which I got in museums, churches, galleries in Florance. I wish my students also experience all those pleasure and enjoyment I experienced seeing the humane and universal art in Italy.

I thank and appreciate heartily the Auditorium Al Duomo, the Romualdo del Bianco, and the Life Beyond Tourism and its great president Mr. Paolo del Bianco for giving me and my students to organize an exhibition of my paintings in 2011.

We would like to inform you that we are ready to participate in your new projects and organizations. Long live the fabulous Florence and hope to continue accommodating us in the future.

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VLADIMIR EGOROV - OLGA KARPOVA Ivanovo State University

The fruitful contacts of Ivanovo State University with the Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation, which historic roots lead to the end of the 90s of the XX c., started in 2004, when – after a preliminary meeting in the 2003 by our Rector Vladimir Egorov and the Foundation’s President Mr Paolo Del Bianco promoted by Mme Ekaterina Genieva, Director of the Library for Foreign Literature of Moscow, we signed an Agreement on Cooperation in the field of Сultural and Scientific Communication between the Foundation and Ivanovo State University.

Over the years, when Foundation constantly and significantly enlarged and strengthened its international reputation, cooperation, developing intercultural communication and dialogue between different nations, more than twenty conferences, seminars, workshops and meetings were organized by our institutions in Florence: • 2004-2006 - seminar “Florentine Humanism of the XIV-XVI cc.” by Professors D. Polyvyanny and N. Revyakina; • 2006 - expert seminar “Molecular Design and Supramolecular Architecture of Nanomaterials” by Professor N. Usoltseva; • 2007 - international conference “The Florentine Contribution to Bolonsky Process” by Professor D. Polyvyanny; • 2009 - International Conference on “Lyotropic Liquid Crystals and Nanomaterials” organized under the Foundation patronage at Ivanovo State University within the framework of “Degree & Profession” Festival etc.).

• 2013 - X International School on Lexicography “Life beyond Dictionaries” Our scholars had a chance to become not only partners but first-hand developers and prime movers of several projects carried out by the Foundation. With the Foundation support we involved over 300 teachers and students from a many institutions from Russia and other countries: Great Britain, Germany, Hungary, Spain. And our recently organized joint lexicographical event – X international school on lexicography, brought together scholars from five continents and fifteen countries: Austria, South Africa, Australia, France, UK, Japan, Canada, etc.

The cooperation with the Foundation let Ivanovo University find new partners in Florence – the University of Florence and Accademia della Crusca with which we now organize both joint meetings, conferences and other events. We have exchange with literature, ideas and publish joint papers. In other words, the Romualdo del Bianco Foundation and LBT philosophy to carry friendly, cultural and educational dialogue with different nations brought together new friends of the Foundation and Ivanovo Univeristy.

By the decision of our University Academic Council the Foundation President Mr. Paolo Del Bianco was awarded the title of Honorary Professor for the great contribution of the Foundation into integration of our University into European educational environment. Moreover for outstanding activities and great personal contribution into intercultural dialogue Mr. Paolo del Bianco recently was awarded the Honorary Certificate of Ivanovo City government where he had a meeting with the Head of the City Administration Mr. Alexander Kuzmichiov and discussed with him new perspectives of cooperation In its turn, the Foundation Board awarded Ivanovo State University with a medal of Honor for the effective cooperation. And in May 2013 we got a generous gift from the Foundation – Leonardo da Vinci bust. The unveiling procedure took place in the Main Reading Hall of Ivanovo State University and brought together local mass media, heads of regional departments of culture, education, tourism and other regional authorities. Paolo del Bianco had meetings and lectured to our students and Learned Council members talking about the Foundation activities and encouraging people to joint our fruitful cooperation.

It should be noted that the Foundation contributes to the strengthening of friendly ties between Russia and Italy. It is an obvious example of successful realization of Bologna process in terms of academic mobility. It will become even more important and symbolic in 2011, a “Year of Russian Culture and Language in Italy and Italian Culture and Language in Russia”.

Seven international students’ workshops organized by Vice-Rector for Public Relations, Head of English Department Professor Olga Karpova in 2008-2013 deserve special remark. At this time, when Life beyond Tourism non-profitable portal was opened, the project attracted participants from three countries (Serbia, Croatia, Hungary) and ten Russian Universities from

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all corners of multinational Russia: Kazan, Chelyabinsk, Tomsk, etc.

Participation of students from multinational regions of Russia profoundly contributed to LBT philosophy and opened new perspectives in mutual intercultural dialogue. Thus the Foundation and LBT helped us to show the cultural differences of various Russian cities and helped to understand their peculiarities.

Students’ presentations of their regions took place in April 2013 at Duomo in the International day of ICOMOS. The project offered by our University is devoted to the compilation of a new encyclopedic dictionary entitled “A Dictionary without Boundaries: Florence in the Works of World Famous People (Writers, Artists, Musicians). Project of a Dictionary for Guides and Tourists”. This long-term project (called Dictionary without Boundaries) is devoted to the Italian, particularly Florentine, influence on different national cultures. Majestic Florence, a symbol of Renaissance and a source of inexhaustible inspiration for the most eminent figures of art and literature, encouraged young people from various universities (Belgrade, Budapest, Kazan’, Perm, Tomsk, Vladimir, Zagreb, etc.) to reflect Florentine grandeur and contribution to the world culture through making a unique multimedia dictionary of associative type. The dictionary entries allow combining descriptions of the life and creative works of famous people who once lived or worked in Florence with the students’ own impressions of the wonderful city, their personal feelings and emotions.

Professors of Ivanovo State University used to work as international experts of the Foundation. Since 2004 we were invited by the Head of the Foundation Mr. Paolo del Bianco to hold round table discussions, develop further cooperation and prepare singing of Memorandum between the Foundation and Major of Ivanovo. During these visits along with fruitful meetings we visited many interesting cultural events, exhibitions and workshops together with members of the Foundation governing board (for example, the unforgettable Cynthia Sah’s and Nicolas Bertoux’s art shop whose sculptures are installed in many countries of the world: Paris, Taipei, Copenhagen, Hong Kong, etc.

Ivanovo State University has always paid special attention to the development of friendly, cultural and educational relations with foreign universities and non-governmental institutions which contributes to general research, teaching and social activities carried out at our University. Thus, together with Foundation Romualdo del Bianco and LBT we involved into fruitful joint cooperation our University partners from Denmark, Poland and Turkey. The result was remarkable: in May 2013 we organized together the first international conference on Tourism and Hospitality with published volume of Proceedings. This event was supported by Ivanovo Regional Government and brought together many businessmen, scholars and interested people. We had important Round Table discussions with all foreign partners and signed a joint Agreement of cooperation with Academia Dania and Istanbul University.

In conclusion, in less than 10 years the initiatives promoted under the co-operation between our University and the Foundation (both in Florence than in Ivanovo) involved over 400 students and more than 100 professors; nowadays, the participation of our University in the Foundation’s commitment for the promotion of the local cultural expressions of the territories for the intercultural dialogue (the “Life Beyond Tourism” philosophy), arises new opportunities in the sooner future: Ivanovo State University stands by the Foundation in its commitment and has the possibility and will to affirm its dedication to the dissemination of Life Beyond Tourism, within the international network of universities of the Foundation: - by selecting, guiding and assisting students for searching and publishing in the Life Beyond Tourism Portal the most significant and representative “cultural expressions” of the territories (so called “populating process” of the LBT Portal) - by selecting post-graduates and PhD students who, by using the information gathered by their younger colleagues as above, carry out reseaches on the local “cultural biography”,. The Ivanovo State University really believe in the Initiative of the Foundation and we would like to be considered as one of the potential leaders (incubator) of an international working team made by Universities committed altogether in this fascinating topic regarding like the valorisation of the local cultural personalities, mainly with the interpretation and presentation of the less known institutions, the smaller ones. We are proud to follow this philosophy and to contribute with our forces in spreading out it at world wide level. The Ivanovo State University is ready to follow this initiative which promotes the intercultural dialogue for peaceful coexistence, starting from the heritage, tangible and intangible in each village of this world that is approaching to 10 billion inhabitants by practicing the MODEL Life Beyond Tourism .Org and .Net as incubator in our Region.

We would like to congratulate the Foundation Board members and personally - Mr. Paolo del Bianco, our true and dear Friend, with the 15 anniversary since the established of the Foundation which fulfils today an important and serous task so necessary for modern world – bringing people together for fruitful and enthusiastic intercultural dialogue, promoting Florence around the world, working as a real Ambassador of peace.

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MARCELLO GARZANITI Italian Association of Slavists University of Florence FOR THE FIFTEEN YEARS OF THE ROMUALDO DEL BIANCO FOUNDATION I have known Paolo del Bianco since the beginning of the 2000s while the Foundation held wide relationships with countries of Central and Eastern Europe. From the very beginning I was impressed not only by his extraordinary communication skills, but especially by the idea of realizing seminars with groups of students, accompanied by their teachers, who had as their object Florentine cultural heritage, from its architecture to the literary work of Dante.

The delegations that have come to Florence and that for many years have given me the opportunity to get to know or meet again colleagues of many universities in the Slavic countries, among which I would particularly like to mention the lecturers and researchers of the University of Ivanovo (Russia), starting with colleague N.V. Revjakina, an internationally renowned humanistic literature specialist.

Later, I was coopted by the group of experts of the Foundation, to which I have tried to contribute with ideas and programming within the context of my slavistic researches. The support of the Del Bianco Foundation has allowed to organize the first international conference dedicated to the spread of Italian humanism in Russia, with particular focus on Maximus the Greek, who was educated in Florence and then became one of the most important writers in the sixteenth century Muscovy (22 to 24 November 2007, acts have been published in the journal "Studi Slavistici" 2009).

I would also like to mention the presence of Paolo Del Bianco at Week on "Poland in Europe" (1-4 February 2011), held at the Faculty of Humanities (Palazzo Fenzi, Florence) and organized by the University of Florence and the Institute of Polish Culture (Rome). The event saw the participation of the Ambassador of Poland and important representatives of Polish academia and society in the presence of the Rector and several academics.

I shall not stop without enumerating the many initiatives that took place at the Palazzo Coppini or at different institutions in Florence. These were promoted also by the Honorary Consulate of the Czech Republic, where with colleagues and students of my university I contributed to initiatives to strengthen the cooperation of the chair of Slavistics in Florence with the Foundation Del Bianco. I would particularly like to mention the Round Table "From Florence 20 years of dialogue with Eastern Europe (1991-2011); the experience of the Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation in the creation of the “Life Beyond Tourism-Nonprofit Portal", realized within the Festival of Europe (Florence 2011).

Finally, I would like to emphasize the collaboration with the Foundation in the organization of the X School of Lexicography (12-14 September), held at the Auditorium al Duomo and Palazzo Coppini, an event of great significance for the research activities of the newly formed Research Unit "Multilingual cultural heritage dictionary of Florence", based in the Department of Languages, Literatures and Intercultural studies of my university, and in which I wanted the Foundation to be represented.

I sincerely appreciate the enthusiasm with which the Foundation has supported and achieved the goal of the next International Congress of ICOMOS to take place in Florence (2014). Also our Research Unit has joined the initiative by presenting its proposals for the development of a multilingual lexicon of Cultural Heritage.

I am sure that the collaboration with the Foundation, gained through years of joint activities, will develop even more and produce successful results in the future.

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PAVEL GREGOR Slovak Technical University Bratislava

The role of the architect in the creation of cultural values of contemporary society is irreplaceable as well as exploring the cultural and historical values of the previous generation of artists to teach future architects.

When I tried (as a Head of Monument Preservation Department of Faculty of Architecture in Bratislava) to establish contacts with similar universities in Central Europe, meeting with Professor Bohumil Fanta of the Faculty of Architecture in Prague meant also the first contact with the Foundation Romualdo Del Bianco and historic architecture of Florence in November 1999.

International Integration Meeting in frame of Project: Influences of Renaissance Florentine Art of the second half of 15 th century, in many European cities involved professors and students from the faculties of architecture of Bratislava, Budapest, Cracow, Prague and Warsaw. This project wanted not only to be one of architectural student workshop, but to be an answer to some of nowadays European challenges: such as the discovery of common roots, which overcome any political border and/ or generation gap; the development of communication among people of different cultures, thanks to a better mutual knowledge; or the active contribution of people coming from different cultural areas, in order to reach common goals.

While staying in Florence, students and professors visited the Uffizi Gallery, The Palatina Gallery (Pitti Palace) and the Academia Gallery, same as all historical buildings and places in Florence same as towns nearby which was possible to visit in one week. It was a week full of excellent artistic “masterpieces”.

Some might say: typical student workshop than any other... Sure. Meeting with Paolo del Bianco - president and the soul of Foundation, with his humanity and passion for password “meetings and activities in Florence for young people, through which persons from different countries and cultures may meet, get acquainted and understand each other in order to favour mutual knowledge and friendship and, hence, contribute to promoting world peace” could inspire anyone and made it an exceptional and unforgettable.

Unforgettable as well as a number of these personal meetings and discussions with Paolo, whether these student meetings, integration meetings of professors in Forte dei Marmi, or expert Round table discussion, which I attended for over 10 years .

All activities of the Foundation have brought benefits not only to the professional activities of an architect - teacher, but especially the wealth of personal meeting new contacts and learning about foreign cultures .

If the Foundation was looking for their goals after “ the fall of the Iron Curtain “ in learning about different cultures , this goal is also currently showing always up to date and we all need to wish the foundation many more years of successful international collaboration and positive influence of young people.

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ANNIVERSARY OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FONDAZIONE ROMUALDO DEL BIANCO - BOOK OF MEMORIES

ROMANA PRZYBYSZEWSKA GUDELIS University of Economy, Bydgoszcz THE EXTRAORDINARY CONTRIBUTION OF PAOLO DEL BIANCO TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF FRIENDSHIP AND PEACE IN THE WORLD I would like to analyze here briefly the history of contacts and friendship between President of Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation – Paolo Del Bianco and his enormous undertakings on the one hand, and my personal life, the institutions I have represented and a wide circle of people engaged in these contacts on the other.

My memory of the happy time when I became acquainted with Paolo Del Bianco dates back to the year 1997 when the official delegation from Poland came to Florence in order to strike up the fruitful ties in the field of tourism between Poland and Italy. It was a specific journey for me personally because one day before my departure I came down with nasty flu and I arrived in Florence with a high fever and a big pack of medicines. The Polish delegation consisted of the representative from the Ministry of Sport and Tourism, the President of Polish Tourism Information Office in Rome and me – an urban planner, a researcher in the national Institute on Tourism in Warsaw, with the task of an Italian – Polish interpreter during the meetings in Florence1.

I remember well that in Hotel Laurus we were welcomed warmly by a fascinating, full of energy architect - Paolo Del Bianco who immediately invited us to the famous Palazzo Vecchio to participate in the ceremony of the 30th anniversary of the first heart transplantation performed by doctor Bernard who was invited to Florence to receive a special prize.

The following days Paolo organized for us a number of meetings in Florence Municipal Office, in the Florence University where we discussed with Faculty of Economy professors possibilities of cooperation. Then Paolo with his charming family (female!) invited us to their holiday house located at seaside in Forte dei Marmi. We visited Pisa, Pietrasanta and other attractive places too. I will not forget our exceptionally interesting discussions around the great table while I washed down my antibiotics with… glorious Tuscan red wine!

Those days in Forte dei Marmi were often remembered and mentioned by Paolo in public in the next few years because of my entry in the guest memorial book. I wrote there that the Polish national anthem2 contains the sentence: “March! March, Da¸browski. March from Italy to Poland! “, and yet now the direction of the “march” is the opposite, because through Paolo Del Bianco’s invitations the Polish people march in large numbers from Poland to Italy.

Paolo recounted to us then, with his characteristic commitment and passion, his plans and dreams which he would like to pursue together with his family on an international scale - built interpersonal relationships, mutual understanding and cooperation. He especially intended to take these actions to the countries of Eastern Europe, which just a few years before had come from the totalitarian rule. Paolo, the father of three daughters, was mainly concerned about students, their social and cultural awareness, their knowledge of the world, historical heritage, creating opportunities for mutual meetings and the exchange of ideas. That was the origin of the precious words appearing on the mission emblem of the to-be-created-soon (1998) Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation:

“For peace in the world, among young people of different Countries, through culture. Meeting, getting acquainted, understand each other to develop friendship among people”.

These ideas enchanted me in a special way and the opportunity to participate in the activities seemed to be an honour and distinction. But I have to admit that I did not fully believe in the successful implementation of his mission! I thought: “Of

1. In 1960 and 1964 – 66 I graduated from the Postgraduate Urban Planning Studies in Polytechnic School in Milan and I continued the architecture and urban planning training.

2. It is worth mentioning that in Reggio Emilia in 1797 the general Józef Wybicki wrote the text of Polish Legions’ Song which was later adopted as the Polish national anthem.

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course, before me I have a wonderful, charismatic man, an architect, a humanist, a Tuscan with the heritage of Renaissance artists, whose potential was mostly his family, his great wife Giovanna and three intelligent, but underage daughters, a few co-operators, a chain of Vivahotels (an important asset!). Is this enough to take up such a great challenge? Isn’t it a utopian desideratum to plan internationally?”

Yet, over the years, those plans became the tangible reality and developed. The organizational structure of Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation acted as a springboard for research and creativity (numerous exhibitions of artists from many countries from Poland to Georgia and to Japan), revitalization, design, restoration of the Florentine artworks (from the Uffizi Gallery and others) and yet the main outcome was to create cultural and social ties. At the same time, the geographical expansion of Paolo - “the modern Renaissance man” contacts, allowed his “World Family” to grow, strengthened by the bonds going beyond homogeneity of cultures, economic and even political systems.

I am not going to give in this short note a historical description of all the activities undertaken by the Foundation, instead I would like to confine myself only to those that influenced most the fate and the awareness in my immediate environment.

Since 2000, as a researcher at the University of Economy in Bydgoszcz (previously: Pomeranian University of Tourism and Hotel Management), I have regarded as the most fruitful activity the students’ and young academics’ participation in the International Students’ Workshops held annually in Florence. More than 50 people in total, students and tutors, took part in the workshops working in international teams and the mode of interaction contributed to exceptional relationships, more than once resulting in a long friendship3. After the workshops the students’ faces beamed with smiles and joy, undoubtedly due to direct contacts with the wonderful city – Florence, with President Paolo Del Bianco and the Secretary General of the Foundation - our wonderful friend Simone Giometti. This testifies what a great role is attached by the Foundation Management to the human relations at the time of each event, with each group of young people, with each student. A clear and just competition in the presentations of the workshops results facilitated the intercultural communication. The results of the workshop can be summarized at least as follows: - gaining historical and cultural knowledge - improving the knowledge of foreign languages, mostly English - broadening horizons and becoming aware of cultural identity - making acquaintances and friends - sightseeing beautiful Florence, and learning its role as a huge tourist centre.

The universities from our region, The Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz and Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun´, are still participating in the students’ workshops as leaders and partners, and the University of Economy is hoping to join them in the coming years.

Other form of Foundation great activity are the unforgettable annual meetings at the Round Table, which bring together an increasingly friendly group of the members of RDB Foundation Grand Family. They are including representatives of science and regional and municipal authorities from an ever increasing number of countries, and I consider them absolutely of great importance.

We feel truly honoured that Paolo visited Bydgoszcz three times, always making a concrete contribution to our joint efforts, and in 2011, together with Simone, he participated in the international conference in Torun organized by University of Economy in Bydgoszcz.. Unfortunately, in 2007 the President did not manage to collect a statuette – decoration of University of Economy in person, therefore I handed it to him in public during my stay in Florence in 2009. Meanwhile, I was awarded with a medal of the RDB Foundation in 2008 and it was a great honour for me4.

This all contributed to the liberation of feelings, sincere friendships and a sense of belonging to a common Europe and the “common World” in a historical context and the desired development in the future. At the University of Economy more

3. A classic example is the relationship and coexistance of Kinga Marecka from Bydgoszcz and Lubos Hazucha from Slovakia living now in Florence. It should be added that in 2008 Kinga Marecka wrote, under my supervision, a dual degree master’s thesis on the role of Paolo Del Bianco and his Foundation in student tourism - at the University of Economy in Bydgoszcz and in the same time at the University Le Mirail in Toulouse (France).

4 . The famous awarding of the “al buio” medal - in the dark, in the under-the-renovation “Auditorium al Duomo” - nowadays the Amfitheatre Hall dedicated to the memory of Prof. Andrzej Tomaszewski.

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than 50 people, including President Krzysztof Sikora, Agnieszka Kowalkowska, Dominika Muszyn´ska - Jeleszyn´ska, Joanna Kosmaczewska, Paulina Kantowska (former student), are not only the ex-guests but simply fanatical friends of the Foundation led by Paolo, his growing family and new offspring, not forgetting, of course, the person completely dedicated to the mission of the Foundation – the Secretary General and our great friend - Simone Giometti. If we added to the fans the Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz with the faithful to the Foundation Maria Murawska, we could say that in our city there is quite a large group of people promoting the idea: „ to come up with thoughts and proposals of use to international community”.

A wide range of international contacts and activities of the Foundation has another, quite amusing, aspect: Paolo must learn to propose a toast in many languages. I remember the meeting in San Gimignano in the 2002 when during the lunch his toasts: “Alla salute!”, “Na zdrowie!” etc. in dozens of languages took more than 10 minutes.

The European economic crisis has recently prevented the intense participation of our students and researchers in the new activities of the Foundation. The Ethos “Life Beyond Tourism” with the Manifesto, the Life Beyond Tourism Non Profit Portal Heritage Community and the LBT “Supporting System” offer fewer possibilities to universities but are more open to urban authorities and their agencies to promote tourism destination (the offices of tourism destination promotion).

However, The University of Economy in Bydgoszcz signed the document Memorandum of Understanding concerning the cooperation in this field already in 2011.

And what’s next? I wish all these intense and vibrant activities of the Foundation, which does not waste energy on bureaucracy and paperwork, would continue to flourish. It ought to be accomplished for the benefit of the world, defying the struggles, contrasts and hatred. Paolo’s constantly travelling the world, receiving honorary doctorates and numerous awards, has become a global Ambassador of Peace, surpassing his plans from many years ago. He brings us closer culturally, scientifically, facilitates friendly relations. May his health and strength allow for the further development and the numbers of his followers grow, in which I actually believe, because Paolo’s oldest grandson, Cosimo, has promised me that he will rock... the cosmos!h

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BOOK OF MEMORIES - ANNIVERSARY OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FONDAZIONE ROMUALDO DEL BIANCO

RAY HUTCHISON University of Wisconsin-Green Bay It is remarkable that my most memorable teaching experiences, and most important professional contacts, come not from my own university, or even from my own country, but from a most remarkable city some 4,000 miles distant. The experiences and contacts are the direct result of the Del Bianco Foundation, and even more the foresight and vision of Paolo Del Bianco.

Encounter I: I remember well my first visit to Florence. There was a conference in Venice and as part of the travel I was asked to meet with officials of the Del Bianco Foundation to explore possibilities for student travel and participation in Foundation activities. Sarah Meredith, another member of our faculty, had been invited to one of the workshops the previous year, and had recommended the activities to our student travel office. My travel muse for this first and next several visits was Cassandra, who served not so much as a warning, but as a guide for the odyssey. Our walk from the train depot to the Del Bianco office was nearly fatal – not realizing that we were on a two-way street, I started into the cross walk as soon as the traffic cleared, and bounced off the side mirror of an oncoming bus. After a brief meeting, Simone Giometti, invited us to dinner that evening with faculty from several architecture departments in Tuscany. I learned much at that dinner even though I did not realize it at the time: Florence is a magical place with a long and remarkable history, and not simply the birthplace of the Renaissance. The kings and queens of France did not use silverware until Catherin de Medici brought the Italian utensils to the royal court with her marriage to Henry II. It is difficult to finish a dinner after that knowledge has been shared, wondering if others are watching how you hold that fork!

The following day I met Simone Giometti to discuss shared interests and thoughts about possible future activities. Sitting at the rooftop Pitti Palace, our half hour meeting stretched to two hours, ending with the suggestion that I return to attend the next meeting of the Roundtable of Experts,. I suggested that we might plan on a conference on immigration or other urban-related topics. When I left Florence I am not certain that I thought any of this would really happen.

Dialogue I. The following year I attended the Roundtable of Experts with meetings in the newly opened Auditorium al Duomo. This was an overwhelming experience, the auditorium nearly full of representatives from more than a dozen countries.

I had spent much the month before trying to figure out exactly what the Roundtable was, and now that I was in Florence, and in front of more than a hundred persons, I still was not sure. I spoke briefly, explained that our university would like to participate in the student workshops, that it was difficult because of the travel costs, but that I would be working with our university officials to develop a travel course and try to bring our students, because it was important that they have an opportunity to meet with students from other countries. When I finished, from the middle of the auditorium came a loud voice – Bravo! – followed by applause. This was my first introduction to Milan Prodanovic, and to his wife Sonja, who would introduce me to other their friends and help me to understand more about how the Foundation functions.

Encounter II: Shortly after this I received an email inviting me to attend a meeting sponsored by the Department of Architecture at the University of Florence on the topic a New Charter on European Heritage and Architecture. I tried to explain that as much as I would like to attend the conference, I had no expert knowledge on architecture and likely would not be able to contribute much to the discussion. That seemed to be less important than the fact that Paolo Del Bianco wanted me to attend the meeting, and so I arrived in Florence for the third time in the fall of 2006. And it was here that I learned my second important lessons about Italian culture and academic life.

The first day of the meeting I arrived at the School of Architecture 5-10 minutes early. I did not think too much about the people who were outside the building, talking, when I arrived. I went to the nearly empty library conference room and sat down. Ten or fifteen minutes after the scheduled start, I went back to the lobby and noticed that the group of persons outside the building had increased in size. I went back to the conference room, and after another 10-15 minutes later several groups of persons came into the meeting room, having finished their discussions outside the bulling.

The next day I decided to take a more leisurely approach, and left my hotel at the time the meeting was scheduled to start, and stopped at a local bar to have an espresso before heading over to the School of Architecture. I was in line behind a young woman when the door opened and four construction workers came inside. I ordered a cappuccino, and then the group of 38

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construction workers ordered a round of espressos. I thought… this would never happen in the United States!

Life Beyond Tourism: At the 2008 Roundtable we were introduced to the new ethos for Life Beyond Tourism. Sitting in the meeting room of the Palazzo Vecchio, listening to the new program presented by Paolo del Bianco, I pulled out a notebook and began sketching out ideas that placed Life Beyond Tourism in the middle of an broader framework. My presentation another Roundtable several years later built upon those original notes, looking at life before the tourist experience, and life after the tourist experience, and moving the focus also to life before and after the tourist experience for other individuals and groups – the workers, owners, and others involved in the tourist destinations. The topic is much like Florence itself – the opportunities are never-ending.

Dialogues III: For one of the Roundtable meetings, I made arrangements to participate in the Student Workshop organized

by Milan Prodanovic. The workshop included student groups from eight different countries. After a brief presentation to the group about the program for the coming week, there was a coffee break, and the students were told that they had half an hour to form work groups – no more than one person from each country. I was astonished when the time was up and the students presented their work groups. I was invited to make several presentations to the groups, and accompanied them to many of the field trips across the city. This was beyond a doubt the most exciting classroom experience of my teaching career.

Encounters III: I have had the great fortune of working with Simone Giometti and others at the Foundation on the Florence Expo, where I organized three sessions on The Tourist City, and more recently on a stand-along conference titled Everyday Life in the Segmented City. The planning committee for the conference included colleagues from the University of Bologna and the University of Florence, as well as colleagues from South America and Europe that I had met through the Foundation.

We hosted a group of 80 scholars from more than a dozen countries and four continents. A group of papers from the conference has been published in a volume titled Everyday Life in the Segmented City as part of the Research in Urban Sociology series, edited by Gabriele Manella, Camilla Perrone, and Lorenzo Tripodi. The volume contains a forward and dedication to Paulo Del Bianco and to the Foundation for his work in sponsoring the international dialogues that have made this and other workshops and conferences possible.

Dialogues III: UW-Green Bay has awarded a small number of honorary doctoral degrees to a select number of persons who have made significant contributions in their field. When faculty we asked to nominate individuals for this award at our Spring Graduation ceremony, we nominated Paolo Del Bianco for this honor, and were pleased to have him visit our campus and meet with other faculty and university officials. I had the great privilege to arrange a series of meetings in Chicago for Paolo with officials at the Art Institute, the Art Institute School of Design, and the Chicago Architecture Foundation. We look forward to welcoming Dr. Del Bianco back to UW-Green Bay this coming Spring for the unveiling of the Leonardo da Vinci bust, a permanent memorial to his work and to the relationship between the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and the Romauldo Del Bianco Foundation in Florence.

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BOOK OF MEMORIES - ANNIVERSARY OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FONDAZIONE ROMUALDO DEL BIANCO

NANA IASHVILI Tbilisi State Academy of Arts, Tbilisi COLUMBUS PRIZE - ART, SCIENCE, ENTERPRISE I have great pleasure to remind my first private visit to Florence, prior which I already knew about various activities leaded and promoted by the Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation from the Rector of the Tbilisi State Academy of Arts, professor Soso Koiava. I also knew the foundation’s intention to establish cultural relations with the Georgian higher universities. And so, I’ve explored the foundation’s web-page and started an on-line communication. A great interest was attracted by a slogan “Art in your heart, a tribute to Florence” and the foundation’s motto “For peace in the world, among young people of different Countries, through culture. Meeting, getting acquainted, understand each other to develop friendship among people”. It gave birth to the academy’s involvement into the international activities like students workshops, scientific conferences, festivals, exhibitions, various cultural events.

I’ve become acquainted with Mr. Paolo Del Bianco and his family, with Mr. Simone Giometti. The personal mutual sympathy, and especially, Mr. Paolo’s Personality has defined a new way of acting jointly “without competition, respecting individual identities, discovering the past together, working to build a shared future”. The Tbilisi State Academy of Arts and the Media Arts Faculty expressed their will to contribute in the cross-cultural dialogue between the Georgian and Italian ancient cultures, and thus, the intention was announced at the International Experts Round Table, my first meeting point for planning further activities, I attended in Florence. At that moment, I do knew for myself – I wish to become the foundation member and an expert with the goal of jointly providing an opportunity to the Georgian students and professors for presentation and interpretation of the Georgian cultural tangible and intangible heritage for the purpose of communication and respect to other nations. I’ve achieved to a strong decision to become involved and to involve academic audience in the foundation’s innovative attitude towards cross-cultural dialogue while applying the tourism development tools. Fortunately, the decision appeared to be extremely lucky and fruitful. At present, the Tbilisi State Academy of Arts and the Media Arts Faculty can’t imagine the time without collaboration with the Romulado Del Bianco Foundation, especially after launching the Life Beyond Tourism Non Profit Portal-Heritage Community, having a motto: “From Florence, we are helping to trigger young people’s emotions urging them to come up with thoughts and proposals of use to international community”.

What are the outcomes of the collaboration? It is the cultural platform for the young professionals and students, for displaying their creative abilities and improving professional skills, sharing experience, becoming closer and drawing inspiration from the Italian great culture, for promoting themselves to the high experts in various fields, establishing the net of successful professional contacts with institutional representatives and the universities world-wide.

All the above said is unimaginable if not taking into account the Personality of Mr. Paolo Del Bianco. I don’t know even a person who, after knowing Him, not to honour and respect greatly this very charismatic Personality. Mr. Paolo is the Face of Florence, just as Dear, as the names, representing the ancient Florentine art and heritage, and in my opinion, these are not the overstated words. I think and would like to assure others, that the foundation’s honourable idea – To be the Host for the cross-cultural dialog has the roots of the “Georgian hospitality concept” if considering the hospitality of Mr. Paolo and his family.

According to the Motto: “International encounters without competition, respecting individual identities, discovering the past together, working to build a shared future”, the cultural dialogue has been held as for me, as for Mr. Paolo, too, because his visits to Georgia became an opportunity to feel the “Genius Loci” here and to draw inspiration from communicating with the people, respecting and caring the heritage, and trying the best to build the collaborative future. I am one of those luckiest persons, who has recently been provided a chance to lead the international event in the newly renovated Palazzo Coppini.

Congratulations to the Romulado Del Bianco Foundation and the Florentine scientific and academic audience, with founding the International Meeting and Study Centre, with the 15th anniversary of the Foundation and printing the pub-

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ANNIVERSARY OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FONDAZIONE ROMUALDO DEL BIANCO - BOOK OF MEMORIES

lication, representing the 15 years long collaboration with about 400 universities and institutions of the cultural heritage world-wide. I wish the Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation and the Life Beyond Tourism Portal further development by involvement of the new members in the name of promotion the honourable idea of cross-cultural dialog.

Several years ago, with the goal of recognizing Mr. Paolo Del Bianco’s merit, the Georgian government and the academic audience awarded Him with the Status of Honorary Citizen of the Tbilisi City, and also, with the Degree of “Honoris Causa” of the Tbilisi State Academy of Arts and Iv. Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University.

Now I’m sending Mr. Paolo Del Bianco the heartiest congratulations for deserving the "Columbus Prize - Art, Science, Enterprise", recognizing him as a distinguished Personality - "The Builder of Civilization".

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BOOK OF MEMORIES - ANNIVERSARY OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FONDAZIONE ROMUALDO DEL BIANCO

YASEMIN INCE GÜNEY Balıkesir University

It was December 2008, during the conference titled “Architectural education and the problems of Islamic architectural heritage preservation,” which was organized by Azerbaijan Architectural University jointly with Foundation of Romualdo Del Bianco in Florencte, that I first met with the Foundation and its beautiful people. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Prof. Dr. Nevzat Ilhan, one of the Foundation’s International Experts, who introduced me and my colleague Asst.

Prof. Dr. Hatice Uçar to the wonderful world of the Foundation.

I was impressed by the warm and welcoming atmosphere that was presented to all conference participants during the conference. The most memorable time for me was the pasta party when all the participants exchanged the spirit of the Foundation.

I was also able to join the XII Round Table of the Foundation when I got to learn more about the activities of the Foundation and how we could participate more in them. We were impressed with the opportunities that the Foundation were providing for cultural dialogue among different backgrounds and thus Balıkesir University signed a co-operation agreement act with the Romualdo Del BiancoFoundation in May 2010 to strengthen our already existing partnership and to develop future colloboration between our institutions.

With the help of Secretery General, Simone Giometti, we were able to attend our first international workshop in Florence as Balıkesir University during November 2010. It was the Touches of Renaissance workshop that was organized by our beloved Prof. Bohumil Fanta.

Dr. Fanta also invited us to the International Summer School of Drawing in Prague that was organized by Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Fakulty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Department of Garden and Landscape Architecture.

These were the first ever international workshops for our students from Balıkesir University to participate and for most of them it was the first international experience of their life. They enjoyed the opportunity to get together with students from other cultures and share their experiences. It was also a wonderful opportunity for us as academicians to get together with our colleaques from other countries and share our experiences.

We not only attended the workshops but also organized our first workshop in March 2011. Titled “Understanding Brunelleschi”, the workshop aimed to introduce students one of the most important architects of the Renaissance period.

By specifically focusing on the architectural masterpieces by Brunelleschi, the students examined in detail the socio-cultural, economic and political atmosphere in which sprung the Renaissance and its architectural masterpieces. The workshop proved to be an opportunity for students to visit and have a first-hand experience of the Renaissance masterpieces of Brunelleschi, which in turn will help them to understand the architectural ideals of the Renaissance period.

All these gatherings were wonderful times where I met and sometimes worked together with a lot of new people from all around the world. It was also during the “Understanding Brunelleschi” workshop that I met with the Head of the Department of Architecture from the Eastern Mediterrenean University, North Cyprus. This meeting enabled me to spend the 2011-2012 academic year as a visiting professor at the Department of Architecture of the Eastern Mediterrenean University, North Cyprus.

I truly and sincerely appreciate the mission of the foundation to encourage mutual exchanges of knowledge among young students, academicians and professionals from different countries through an array of cultural events. It is in these events that we as participants meet with each other, enjoy each others’ company, get to know and appreciate our similairites and differences, and favour mutual knowledge and friendship. These are all major steps towards contributing and promoting world peace.

Thank you for all your dedicated work in all these years and proud to take part in some of them.

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ANNIVERSARY OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FONDAZIONE ROMUALDO DEL BIANCO - BOOK OF MEMORIES

GEORGE KALANDIA Georgian State Museum of Theatre, Music, Cinema and Choreography

I always remember the tall man, with the bright cheerful face and hopeful eyes -Paolo Del Bianco, the first representative of an international foundation of the arts, who responded to the desire for a better future for our museum. His visit was important for us: firstly the professional advice of a world-recognized expert in the running and organization of museums was very interesting and secondly, we needed moral support and encouragement. Fortunately Mr. Paolo Del Bianco was at hand.

The aforementioned president of the Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation visited the Georgian State Museum of Theatre, Music, Cinema and Choreography when the museum was facing great changes. The new administration in charge there had many important problems to solve, such as: to stop the destruction of the unique historic building that the museum occupied, the issue of protection of exhibits, the introduction of modern registration standards, as well as administrative reform and the development of new international contacts and much more.

Mr. Paolo Del Bianco says in the museum he saw a huge desire to succeed and in response we want to tell him that on that day, a distinguished Italian scientist expressed the greatest support for our wishes! Mr. Del Bianco has the unusual ability of turning practical pieces of advice into good deeds. Very soon information about our museum and unique photos were placed on his foundation’s web-page. This has greatly contributed to strengthening the international reputation and reach of the Georgian Museum. The holding of a conference dedicated to the memory of David Arsenishvili (1905-1963) in Florence was very important to us. There was also the first exhibition of the works of Petre Otskheli (1907-1937), the best representative of Georgian modernist painting. The Florence conference enabled us to establish new professional contacts, to hear expert opinion on the subject and most importantly, in the eternal art city we saw the modern practice of how to arrange a museum. Mr. Paolo Del Bianco is surrounded by an excellent team of professionals, which is one of the pillars of his foundation’s great success. In Georgia we have a saying: “Always seek people to talk to who are as knowledgeable as a good book”. We are lucky; Mr. Paolo Del Bianco was that man, communication with whom is like reading the most useful and practical book.

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BOOK OF MEMORIES - ANNIVERSARY OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FONDAZIONE ROMUALDO DEL BIANCO

OLEXANDER KASHCHENKO Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture CULTUROLOGICAL ASPECT OF ARCHITECTURAL EDUCATION: IDEAS OF FOUNDATION ROMUALDO DEL BIANCO AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM AT KNUCA The aim of higher architectural education is forming of integral, creative personality of architect. This process will be realized on principles of conceptualness, flexibility, democracy through basic educational functions: educational, scientific, social: -

an educational function envisages the richness of content, actuality, flexibility of the program of studies, combination general individual;

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scientific function is conceptualness, solidity, subjectness, effectiveness, prognostic;

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social function - social oriented, motivation to perception in the general lines of human values.

KNUCA was founded in 1930. Now at the Architectural faculty in direction Architecture and Art are available specialties Architecture of Building and Structures, Urban Planning, Design of Architectural Environment, Fine Art and Decorative Applied Arts. Therese specialties include specialization programs like Basics Theory and History of Architecture, Architecture of dwelling, Civil and Industry Buildings, Regional Planning, Urban Planning, Landscape Design, Business Administration in Architecture, Interior Design, Reconstruction and Restoration of Architectural Objects. About 1700 students study at the Architectural Faculty including foreign students. The teaching stuff of the faculty numbers about 140 qualified professors and assistants. In students education take part more than 30 departments. Eight of them are specialized architectural departments. The Architectural faculty KNUCA is the methodical centre of the architectural education in Ukraine.

The program of architectural education has stable fundamental part and dynamic constituent, which is filled with information about new objects, technologies, methods. The architectural faculty of KNUCA is supported by activity in the field of cultural exchange, study and research of architectural monuments, their reconstruction and restoration.

An architectural faculty constantly takes part in creative competitions, competitions of diploma works of graduating students of architectural faculties that is annually conducted in Russia and Ukraine. On one of such competitions - in Vologda (Russia) we fortunately become acquainted with the representative of Foundation Romualdo Del Bianco – Simone Giometti. After a few professional conversations we became interested in directions of activity of Foundation by the subjects of seminars, exhibitions, competitions. Additional information is got from a web-site and communication with colleagues from educational establishments of Kyiv, Odessa, Kharkiv, that already had an experience collaboration with Foundation.

An active collaboration with a fund began in 2007. Acquaintance with the leader of Foundation - Paolo Del Bianco – non-ordinary, creative personality, talented leader, interesting benevolent person – improved our willing of strengthened our creative collaboration.

During this time some groups from our university had visited Florence for participating in the seminars.

At 2007 year teachers of Architectural faculty (Kashchenko Oleksandr, Kashchenko Tetyana) and students (Bogansky Anton, Karelina Daria, Griebiennikov Anton, Kuzmenko Kyrylo) took part in seminar "City as an educational polygon, Smart City, case of Florence” , (12 -7.12.2007), leaded by Milan Prodanovic .

At 13-20 of November of 2008 Dean of Architectural faculty Kashchenko Oleksandr, Head of Department of Design of Architectural environment Timokhin Viktor, post-graduate student - Selyvanov Oleksii and students -Zasutskyi Ievgenii , Sliusar Valentyna , Bentia Marta attend the seminar in Florence -“Design of Urban Environment and Architechual Heritage Reuse: the Role of the “Genius Loci” within the “Life Beyond Tourism” according agenda “Programma Generale D’Integrazione Internazionale Tra Culture Diverse 2008-2009”. Working for the workshop task student wrought: «Certainly our interests and visual recognition are different, but we aspire to understand all values of city, and to create conditions, for that visitors could penetrate into this enviroment too. And whichever our purposes could be, our sights and positions, we see one - it is unique and gorgeous city».

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At 12 - 19 December of 2010 teachers of Department of Urban Planning – Head of department Kushnirenko Mariia, docent Inosova Tetiana and students Gvozdikovskyi Dmytro, Barvinko Oksana, Likhachova Ekaterina, Syngaievska Mariia took part in workshop “Reconstruction - as form of city development”.

In Foundation events also took part teachers of Department of Drawing and Painting – Khodakivska Ludmila, Kolomiez Jurij, Tretyak Julia, Borodaj Julia and others.

We were interested in program of International Congress “Domes of the World” at 3-6.11. 2011, and Kashchenko Tetyana, docent of Department of Architectural design of Building and Structures prepared thesis in topic division “Shapes of domes and their geometrical genesis” Each of seminars differed by creative novelty of theme and form of realization. For our students and teachers it was interesting to work in international groups under the direction of the known professionals in the situation of goodwill, openness, friendliness. All of it defined success of work with each of seminars and had a practical effect in future in study process at our faculty

Developing collaboration between our organizations we had the honor to meet in Kyiv the leader of Foundation - Paolo Del Bianco and general secretary Foundation - Simone Giometti. In the period of this visit it took place the meeting with the representatives of city administration and leaders of university. With working visits our university visited architects and professors, which was cooperated with Foundation - Sandro Parinello, Stefano Bertocci, Genaro Tamponello, Carmela Crescenzi.

At Ukraine our students took part also in International student seminar of the Florentine university and Odesa State Academy of Construction and architecture: Odesa Regional festival "Degree&Profession" with exhibition of diploma projects within the framework of Architectural –construction forum the "Odesa house 2011"on May, 17 - 20 2011.

Students constantly participate in “Degree and Profession” Virtual Expo in the divisions of Architecture, Civil Engineering, Environment, Town and Community Planning, Conservation and Restoration of cultural properties.

Practice of creative work on workshops programs gave considerable professional effect. Many students continue subjects of seminars in their educational architectural projects, and some of them developed this researches in master works and post graduate study, for example: - master's Degrees Markelova J. Forming architectural - planning decisions in a civil spectacle buildings on the basis of principle of transformation; - master's Degrees Bentya M. Forming architectural - planning decisions of higher educational establishments; - post - graduate study Zasuzkiy E. Styling features of architecture of Ukraine; - post - graduate study Singaivska M. Influence of innovative principles of architecture of 20-th on modern architecture of Ukraine.

Students and teachers of Architectural faculty KNUCA are very grateful to Foundation Romualdo Del Bianco for possibility to become familiar with interesting creative activity, to the cultural exchange, and for the possibility personally be acquainted with the outstanding famous monuments of architecture and culture in Florence, Tuscany, Italy.

Such type of collaboration are kind of creative and scientific challenge for students and teachers of modern architectural schools, became new progressive direction in architectural field demonstrating synergetic effect of architectural educational, professional activity and cultural exchange.

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BOOK OF MEMORIES - ANNIVERSARY OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FONDAZIONE ROMUALDO DEL BIANCO

TOMAS KACˇERAUSKAS Vilnius Gediminas Technical University

The circumstances in which (and by whom) they met for the first time the Foundation and the first impressions they had; 1) The impact that the Foundation and its activities have had over the time in their personal and professional life.

Taking part in the activities of the Foundation has enlarged both my research and teaching subjects. Researching the visual aspects and creative society I could appeal to certain examples from visual art and to certain models of creative society in European culture history. I could use the different cases from culture studies by preparing the courses of Aesthetics, Creative societies, Life Art and by creating study programmes Creative communication (master study programme) and Entertainment industries (bachelor study programme).

2) An overall thought about what did it mean for them to meet and take part in the Foundation’s Initiatives.

Taking part in the Foundation’s initiatives I have enlarged my view, touched European cultural heritage, as well experienced close relationship with the colleagues and students.

3) A general description of the relationship with the Foundation that possibly highlight and describe the personal/human impressions, feelings, experience, values and some specific memories.

The activities of the Foundation have been realized in Florence. This very attractive in cultural context city is a place of antique heritage, Renaissance art, and Italian culture. Although the tourism stimulates some cultural activities, the ideology of the Foundation ”Life beyond tourism” orient to life art inseparable from creative activities instead of just touristic aspirations.

I have been involved into the activities of the Foundation by a participant of the workshop in 2008. The meeting with the president of the Foundation Paolo del Bianco and farther relationship have been exceptionally warm.

4) Perspectives and wishes for the future development of their collaboration with the Foundation.

The Foundation is open for the new ideas including the ideas of creative society and creative industries introduced both in the workshops and scientific conferences. It contributes to develop cultural researches and studies, as well the relationship between the teachers and the students in the perspective of cultural heritage. However, possibly low prices for the accommodation would make available the initiatives of the Foundation for more large number of the participants.

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TEMUR KOBAKHIDZE Caucasus University, Tbilisi

I had the opportunity of meeting Mr. Paolo Del Bianco and enjoying hospitality of the Del Bianco family long before the Foundation was established in 1998.

In 1993, when I was Dean of the Faculty of Western European Languages and Literature, Tbilisi State University, Georgia, I received a letter from Paolo, whom I had not known before that. It said I was welcome to visit Florence with friends, and enjoy a free stay at one of the Del Bianco family-owned hotels. Needless to say, I was amazed at the generosity of this offer, and called the enclosed phone number to make sure that was not a joke. The confirmation I received scattered my doubts. I was really invited to Florence, with a friend or two, for a free stay and a discussion on cultural exchange between my University and the would-be Foundation, which at that time was represented solely by Mr. Del Bianco and his plans for the future.

My friends Dr. Kandareli, Prof. Gotsiridze and I were happy to participate in these discussions, as we realized that meeting with Paolo was giving birth to something new and exceptionally important. We discussed the possibility of establishing something like a scientific/scholarly society or fund that would connect individual scientists, scholars and students as well as universities and cultural institutions all around the world, and give them an opportunity to visit Florence for exchanging their ideas in live contacts. This was how my friendship with Paolo and the Del Bianco family began.

It was our first visit to Florence and Italy, and all the conditions of our trip were so exceptionally favorable that after twenty years, Dr. Kandareli and I still remember it with gratitude and will not forget it for the rest of our lives. For us, it was the exploration of something that was very significant; in fact it was a life-changing experience. We had heard much of Florence and its culture, we had read books and articles, but we had never seen it by ourselves. It turned out to be an absolutely stunning experience, and we owe this favor to Paolo Del Bianco in the first place. Taken into consideration that my home country was experiencing severe hardships at the time (the 1991-92 civil war in Tbilisi had just been over), giving us this opportunity had also been a gesture of wise philanthropy on Paolo’s side, which had a lasting positive impact on the future Foundation, which was established five years later, and ever since, it has been a lasting impact on my scholarly career. Since that memorable event and thanks to the Foundation, I have been a frequent and regular visitor to Florence. At least once in a couple of years, I enjoy coming to Florence either on Foundation-connected business, or just to spend a week there during my winter vacations. Today I feel honored and thrilled to be the International Expert of the Del Bianco Foundation and to represent it in my home country.

With the Foundation and with Paolo’s support, my colleagues and I have organized several events in Florence that had international significance. First was the participation of students from Tbilisi State University in the international student workshop "Following Dante. Dante as a Guide in Medieval and Today's Life”, which was organized by the Foundation in 2006. For my Georgian students, this was an extremely important event, as they had the experience they never forgot.

Some of them whom I still meet today, keep dreaming of participation in any of the Foundation’s events in the future. They remember with gratitude the prizes they won in competition with their peers, the discounts they got from the Foundation, as well as the impeccable organization of the event itself and giving them the chance to visit Florence.

Later, in January 2008 together with Professor Paul Douglass of San Jose State University, USA, I organized the International Symposium “T. S. Eliot, Dante, and the European Tradition". This was an exceptionally memorable event, remembered by many scholars who research the work of the eminent Anglo-American poet T. S. Eliot, or teach Dante and Italian culture at their universities. Many of the world-renowned scholars were present as participants, and among them Professor Jewel S. Brooker (USA), Professor Dominic Manganiello (Canada), Professor Nany Gish (USA), Anthony Cuda (USA), Professor J. X. Cooper (USA), who are considered among the best contemporary experts in the field. The symposium was quite a success and it is still remembered in scholarly circles on both sides of the Atlantic as one of the best organized events of the kind.

The next stage of my collaboration with the Foundation was marked by the International Conference that was held in 2010, “The Romantics in Italy: Dante, Italian Culture, and Romantic Literature“. I was the co-organizer of the event (this time with Professor Douglass as project leader), and it was also successful, as distinguished scholars of Romanticism in literature from all over the world met together for live discussions, and many of them expressed gratitude for the perfect organization and friendly atmosphere that met them in Florence.

It should be noted that the organization of all these events would have been impossible without the most active participation

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BOOK OF MEMORIES - ANNIVERSARY OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FONDAZIONE ROMUALDO DEL BIANCO

of the members of staff of the Foundation, most of whom are highly skilled professionals and experts in their field. I would specifically mention Mr. Simone Giometti, whose organizational talent has always impressed me and whose friendship, after years of productive collaboration, I especially value.

In 2012, together with Dr. Patrick Query (USA) and Dr. Stefano Maria Casella (Italy), I organized the International Symposium “T. S. Eliot and the Heritage of Rome and Italy in Modernist Literature”, which was the second in the series of Eliot-related symposiums at the Foundation. This time we introduced the peer seminar for graduate students, which gave opportunity to the students from Georgia and other countries to participate in the work of internationally known scholars, hear their papers and discussions.

The Florentine symposiums on T. S. Eliot and Modernism have gained popularity in the corresponding academic circles throughout the world, and I am frequently approached with the proposals and requests from my colleagues to organize the third edition. That is why I am currently working (together with Dr. Wim Van Mierlo of London University, UK) on the project of the third symposium provisionally titled “Time and Place in the Work of T. S. Eliot and His Contemporaries”, soon to be submitted to the Foundation. Tentatively, the symposium is scheduled for January 2015, and if it comes to pass, I am sure that it will be organized with the skills and competence that the international scholarly community is accustomed to when Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation is the organizer.

Many years have passed since I first met Mr. Del Bianco in Florence. Paolo has been to Georgia for a number of times since then, always making friends and promoting cultural cooperation between Tbilisi and Florence, Italy and Georgia. In return, many Georgian students and scholars have visited Florence and collaborated with the Foundation. I am lucky enough to often see Paolo in Italy as well as in Georgia, both on business and at leisure, and once we even gathered together in the neighboring Azerbaijan, where Paolo was invited by his friends and asked me and Dr. Kandareli to join him there. The friendship that was founded twenty years ago bore rich fruit and today Paolo has many friends in Tbilisi. His contribution to international cooperation is highly appreciated, and he is one of the most respected and welcome guests when he comes to Georgia. In recognition of the importance of his contribution, Paolo has been awarded Honorary Citizenship of Tbilisi, which is a rare honor bestowed on a very limited number of distinguished people in this country. I am convinced that the collaboration with Del Bianco Foundation will lead to further achievements in cultural exchange and friendship between individuals and institutions of both countries that are engaged in this important process.

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ANNIVERSARY OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FONDAZIONE ROMUALDO DEL BIANCO - BOOK OF MEMORIES

ELENA KOROBIY Amur State University

Five years ago cooperation between AMUR STATE UNIVERSITY and FONDAZIONE ROMUALDO DEL BIANCO has begun.We got to know the activity of FONDAZIONE at the competition of graduate qualification works, which every year is realized by trans-regional public organization for the Advancement of architectural education. In the year 2011 the statement of cooperation between FONDAZIONE ROMUALDO DEL BIANCO and AMUR STATE UNIVERSITY was signed.

The main mission of Amur State University is provision of a high quality, available, modern education transformed through knowledges and experience, through the development of scientific and educational technologies into professionals of a new formation. Such experts are capable to realize getting knowledges in science, production and in the business operations.

Today getting of dignified education in sphere of architecture and design is impossible without learning of practice of the best European schools, which are based on the heritage of the World Art. As the result the development of the intercultural dialogue and interchanging by cultural heritage and traditional knowledges between experts, students, professors is very important.

When we had taken part in event “Degree and Profession” for the first time, we left Italy with the idea to create own festival, which would unite like-minded people from various architectural and designer schools of Russian Far East. So, the idea to held a festival “ART SPACE AMUR” was born. Today this festival is international. During the last five years more than thousands of students, experts, teachers from different design schools have taken part in our event. They are communicate, share experience with each other, learn something new. Within the context of the festival competitions, seminars, scientific conferences, master classes, workshops are hold.

The experience of organization of such events, which we got in FONDAZIONE , gave us the possibility to make our town Blagoveschensk more attractive for professionals, tourists. Besides Blagoveschensk’s near- border position promotes it.

We hope that our activity will promote the development of Amur State University, Blagoveschensk and region, attract consideration to cultural and historical values of our region.

In conclusion I’d like to wish success and prosperity to FONDAZIONE, Romualdo Del Bianco, express gratitude for the help, understanding, approval to Paolo Del Bianco and all his family, our good friends - Simone Giometti, Zdenka Skorunkova Dati, Chaira Gomiselli, Prof. Milan Prodanovic (who is a curator of workshop, in which we take part during last four years), his wife Sonya and all people who help to develop FONDAZIONE.

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BOOK OF MEMORIES - ANNIVERSARY OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FONDAZIONE ROMUALDO DEL BIANCO

STANISLAW DANIEL KOTLINSKI Academy of Music end Dramatic Art of Gdansk

Oggi, in un mondo in cui spesso la vita quotidiana sembra consistere soltanto in una sfrenata corsa alla ricerca di nuovi piaceri e divertimenti, è diventato sempre più difficile riuscire a trovare quei valori veri che, soli, sanno porsi come solido fondamento, robuste radici su cui far crescere la nostra esistenza.

Da sempre li ho ricercati, quei valori, spesso con difficoltà e andando contro corrente, per migliorare me stesso e riuscire a costruirmi una vita diversa, che potesse avvicinarmi in modo semplice alla complessa e profonda verità dell'esistenza. Di questa ricerca è stato parte essenziale, da sempre, un forte desiderio interiore, innato e naturale, di dedicarmi anche ad altri.

L’incontro con Paolo Del Bianco, avvenuto parecchi anni fa, è stato in questo senso per me fondamentale, perché questo sogno si è potuto realizzare proprio grazie a lui. Da lui infatti mi è stata offerta l’opportunità di portare il mio personale contributo a molte delle numerosissime iniziative dedicate a giovani artisti, musicisti e cantanti, che hanno preso vita grazie alla Fondazione Romualdo Del Bianco, da Paolo creata e guidata. Molteplici sono state queste iniziative, ma una in particolare tra tutte merita di essere menzionata: la trasformazione del vecchio cinema Astra nell’Auditorium al Duomo, un luogo di cultura nel cuore di Firenze dedicato e donato a tutta la cittadinanza.

Paolo Del Bianco può essere definito a buon diritto un moderno missionario, che propaganda nel mondo una fede chiamata cultura. Fin dall'inizio ha saputo guardare lontano, proponendosi traguardi che nessuno accanto a lui riusciva a intuire con la sua lungimiranza. Con determinata e ferma volontà ha sempre percorso fino in fondo la strada intrapresa, lavorando con costanza e dedizione, in silenzio, e rifuggendo da facili pubblicità. Ha perseguito il suo sogno mettendo addirittura in pericolo la propria salute (ma neppure questo è riuscito a fermarlo), e spesso ha dovuto combattere contro difficoltà e incomprensioni che provenivano proprio dalla sua città, da parte di persone che forse non credevano che un uomo simile potesse ancora esistere oggi giorno. Pian piano lo hanno capito. Hanno dovuto capire!

Nella sua missione, che dura ormai da più di vent'anni, Paolo Del Bianco ha spalancato le porte della sua amatissima Firenze al mondo, creando una rete incredibile di contatti e di rapporti internazionali e interpersonali. Le sue attività dedicate ai giovani hanno portato nel capoluogo toscano moltissimi ragazzi e ragazze provenienti da vari paesi, a volte anche in conflitto tra di loro, appartenenti a diverse culture e religioni, che hanno potuto incontrarsi a Firenze e sviluppare, lavorando insieme, importanti progetti di arti e scienze. Senza alcuna competizione, in sintonia, armonia e amicizia.

Attraverso questi giovani una nuova immagine di Firenze si è diffusa nel mondo, l’immagine di una città umana, bella, accogliente e aperta, e questo è avvenuto per merito di Paolo Del Bianco, che non solo ha incoraggiato la presenza delle nuove generazioni nella sua città, ma si è anche impegnato a favore di un altro importante progetto, quello di promuovere un turismo concepito in armonica sintonia e in sinergia con il mondo della cultura: per farlo ha attraversato il mondo tante volte, ha incontrato migliaia di persone, facendo di questa sua idea straordinaria una ragione di vita, per sé e per la famiglia (e tutto questo senza curarsi delle spese che doveva sostenere, un dettaglio, questo, di cui Paolo, nella sua sincera generosità, evita sempre di parlare).

Per tutti questi motivi Paolo Del Bianco, esempio di persona illuminata e dall’indiscusso prestigio morale, è ammirato e stimato in tante parti del mondo, quale degno successore di più illustri e più saggi cittadini fiorentini che hanno reso Firenze una città unica al mondo.

Non avrei mai pensato, però, che Paolo potesse ancora stupirmi e sorprendermi in modo così toccante come è riuscito a fare con la ristrutturazione e il nuovo allestimento di Palazzo Coppini. L’edificio ospitava prima uffici, e tutte le volte che mi capitava di entrare in quei locali mi rammaricavo che un ambiente così pieno di storia e di bellezza fosse destinato a quell’uso. Dopo più di un anno di assenza da Firenze, un giorno dello scorso aprile mi sono visto recapitare in Polonia l'invito per l'inaugurazione del Palazzo Coppini. Purtroppo improrogabili impegni artistici non mi hanno ancora permesso di visitarlo di persona, ma ho visto le immagini di questa nuova creatura di Paolo, e quello che ho visto mi ha riempito di gioia e ha reso ancora più forte il rispetto e l’ammirazione che nutro per lui. Il suo costante e appassionato impegno si pone come un esempio da seguire per tutti coloro che sono chiamati ad amministrare il patrimonio fiorentino, una eredità che deve assolutamente essere salvaguardata e tramandata alle generazioni future. E’ un compito difficile, oggi più che mai (basti pensare alla terribile crisi che sta attraversando il Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino e il suo festival, il più antico in Europa dopo

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quello di Salisburgo e il più prestigioso in ambito italiano), ma uomini come Paolo Del Bianco ci stanno dimostrando che non è una meta irraggiungibile.

Per tutti questi motivi sono fiero ed onorato di essere amico di Paolo e di fare parte della Fondazione Romualdo Del Bianco, che continua a irraggiare da Firenze verso tutto il mondo un segnale di altissima umanità, di amicizia e di pace, e contribuisce in modo assolutamente rilevante alla salvaguardia del patrimonio culturale e umano della sua città e dell'Italia.

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BOOK OF MEMORIES - ANNIVERSARY OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FONDAZIONE ROMUALDO DEL BIANCO

EGON KRÁK Ján Albrecht Music and Art Academy, Banská Štiavnica

It was for the first time in November 1999 I visited International Round table, organized by Fondazione Romualdo del Bianco in Florence – a and I was impressed by the idea and mission of the Foundation. At this time I also met Mr. President Paolo del Bianco and other representatives of the Foundation and from this moment began my current international education activity in various fields, promoted by Fondazione Romualdo del Bianco. In the last decade of 20th century there were not enough non profit activities promoting special kind artistic competences of young people, especially in Central Europe. To find an Institution full of kindness, friendship and magnificent persons – like Fondazione Romualdo del Bianco in Florence is – was for me and many colleges simply incredible.

After many years of Central European countries political isolation, the particular role of the wonderful mission was not only for giving many opportunities to young students with their creative intention - not only in the proper music area, but also in the future management as a leading personalities in the mentioned institutions and unions, with clear programmatic conceptions and challenging ideas.

The Area where the Foundation had done – and still developing – the most excellent work is a deep impact into human behavior, references, the way of thinking generally. The young people who participate on many workshops, projects and conferences, are inspired by many suggestions directly in the centre of history, art, architecture, music – in the open air museum, Renaissance Florence.

For me as musician, composer and teacher longtime cooperation and relationship with many events, organized by Fondazione Romualdo de Bianco, had a great importance in my profession. There is a historical anecdote, which wonderfully describe the legendary quality of reference between music teacher and his student – Giovanni Gabrieli before his death gave his ring to Heinrich Schütz, German composer, to continue his work at his native country…

Looking at artistic profession generally, humanity, beauty, form and emotion need support and example how to live and work together in each period of life. The mission of the Foundation in Florence is able to give an answer to all these questions especially in the world which seems to be not very friendly in the last years…

My idea as musician and composer was to bring another dimension and influence into young composers and musicians thinking which could enriched their imagination and practice. The deep knowledge of Early music and Vision of musical Beauty, - with many other experience in various musical setting of different historical periods - helps composers and other musicians to built and develop their own technique and imagination. The idea to teach especially this kind of methods and research means to explain the various types of polyphonic thinking and setting, different styles and syntax in selected historical music areas. To these and many other inspiration helped me lot of persons, whom I met during my collaboration with Fondazione Romualdo del Bianco. Thanks to initiatives and propositions in Florence many relations are still active to Polish, Russian, USA, French, Italian and Czech specialists, who enriched me and my work in many occasions.

I am very pleased and honoured to express my great pleasure and LAUDATIO to the founder, President Paolo del Bianco, for his smart and warm friendship full of charity - for outstanding cooperation with Fondazione Romualdo del Bianco in the area of Educational and Cultural Projects which have great importance not only for Slovak Higher Education Music, but for the whole Research and Educational Area in many countries - but also for generally Interdisciplinarity: exchange of scientific information, inter - library activities, documents and publications, conferences, workshops and artistic performances. My great thanks belongs also to Dr. Simone Giometti for his longtime friendship, kindness and understanding.

The great work began - my wish is very simple: no end in this marvellous mission, which help people to make their life and work more civilised, more beautiful and simply human.

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EVA KRALOVA Slovak Technical University, Bratislava My first contact with RDBF was happen in the fall of autumn of the year 1999. It was Prof. Mihaly Zador from the Faculty of Architecture in Budapest who invited our Chair of monument preservation (then with Assoc. Prof. Pavel Gregor as a head) to take part at the project of Prof. Bohumil Fanta from Faculty of Architecture in Prague that took place in Florence with support of Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation. Subsequently, an invitation from the presidency of RDBF came to us to take part at the yearly meeting of Foundation, its friends and partners – to the Round Table of Foundation. We received there the invitation to become the partner and member of Foundation’s environment. I accept the kind offer and from that time I am in permanent connection with Foundation. It is recognition of my person from RDBF presidency that it assigns me a member of its Committee of Experts.

What attracts my interest for RDBF? There were more things and occurrences: President of RDBF – Arch. Paolo Del Bianco. When I came in contact with RDBF and I met its president, I was above multi-annual experiences with the Italian environment, with its culture and residents, too. My acquirement of Italian language makes me possible to perceive directly the authentic atmosphere of the space and the character of people. Italian’s mentality is near to my animus and I always appreciated their friendly, opened, of equal value partner access to us – the isolated form behind the iron curtain. The meeting with Paolo Del Bianco was indeed exceptional. There was such enjoyment of our meeting, such interest about the country where I am coming from, such volcano of cordiality and generosity that I yet never lived through (nor formerly, but not even later, too). Its unlimited confidence in human good, an inconquerable enthusiasm for the friendship and its belief about the force and contribution of interpersonal collaboration enchanted me immediately.

And also the gigantic steam of personal energy widely shined out of all that! It was the energy that Paolo uses not only for the realization of its intentions, but he inspires by this energy and invites to co-operation the others. It is its strong life energy that is, as I uncovered later, a leitmotiv of the function of all Foundation and of its environment. This energy is peculiar to whole its family that equally avidly gives one’s time and one’s forces to the friends, partners and activities of Foundation.

Fig. 1 The main motto of Foundation: “For peace in the world, among young people of different countries, through culture.

Meeting, getting acquainted, understanding each other to develop friendship among peoples“. This motto brought back to memory the political slogans from the period when the Berlin Wall stood yet, for several of us – coming from the so called „eastern block“. Nevertheless, I perceived, just by means of the Paolo’s enthusiasm and by the concrete activities of theirs Foundation, the qualitative difference between the influences of this motto compared the non personal attitude of peoples to the slogans of political propaganda. The principle of active creative co-operation in the milieu of Foundation was elevated over the simple individualistic competitivity. The competition was maintained in the activities portfolio developed by Foundation, too, but as an incentive instrument for to search conjointly the new original solution and as the stimulating educational motivation. The key quality’s criterion for the valuation of attained results during the student’s workshops was always the co-operation – i. e. the distinct expression of the intercultural conjunction of impulses, expressional means and of the collective inclusion and formulation of the proposed solution.

The creative designing workshops for the students on the different topics and in the different branches of art and culture were very favourites. Realized wholly through the collectives composed by the students from the various countries, they provided an extraordinary occasion to the active and concrete international collaboration oriented to the common aim.

Applying the methodical principle “a cultural activity is not the scope but the instrument” in the research and interpretation of the architectural values of Florence, RDBF contributed very effectively to the mutual understanding and respecting the particularity of special ways, traditions and expressions of the participated nationalities and cultures. Fig. 2.

I remember the impact of such “integrative” collaboration on the first groups of our students participated at the designing workshops in Florence from the beginning period of our partnership with RDBF. It was about 10 years after the political changes happened in the countries of Eastern and Middle Europe the free travelling through the whole continent was al-

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ready quite natural for young people. The newly achieved possibility to freely travel also into the distant countries caused the foregoing contacts with the neighbours (the only possible, previously) became interrupted and forsaken. It was in force also for the contacts between the universities. After November 1989, there all our foreigner destinations were oriented mainly out of limit of iron curtain. We neglected and forget our neighbours. Our students knew better London, Paris or Barcelona than the contiguous Budapest, Brno, Prague or Krakow. Thanks to the projects and activities of RDBF, the colleagues from the formerly partner universities of East and Middle Europe met once again after 10 years in Florence and their students began to “discover” the cultural traditions and the common relations with their neighbours. From that time, there is anew opened up our neighbourly collaboration and it is yet a routine standard today. RDBF thanks! Fig. 3.

Alongside of this culture-integrative mission of RDBF, there is advisable to remind its altruistic support all the participants of prepared activities as well as all the friends and partners of Foundation – i. e. the exceptional conditions of accommodation in the Florentine hotels, gratuitous visits in the main Florentine museums, galleries and other cultural jewels in the Florence and Tuscany. The friendly openness and warm-hearted willingness of all Foundation collective welcome always each visitor without reservation. The nicest and worthiest places of Florence offer to the study, research and discussion of the Foundation’s friends. For this – multiple thanks, too.

Projects The first project I took part with my students and colleague prof. Pavel Gregor, was the project entitled “Searching for interrelations” under the leadership of Prof. Bohumil Fanta from Prague. The project, later internally transformed into the project “Touches with renaissance”, was very attractive for the students and it developed into the long-standing series.

Project Heritage for Future was proposed by our Faculty of Architecture in Bratislava and realized in co-operation with the Faculty of Architecture in Florence from the year of 2000. It was dedicated to the new use (reuse) of abandoned or incomplete buildings of architectural heritage. The aim of workshops was to design an architectural intervention into selected historic building of Florence or Tuscany for to create the convenient conditions for a newly inserted function. Thanks to disposed co-operation of Prof. Carlo Canepari the Italian students took part at the workshops, too. They made the perception of Italian traditions (not only those architectural) but also the day-to-day life in Italy more intensive for the entire foreign students. It was much appreciated. This project brought me more exceptional experiences – not only about the working methods and educational practices in partner’s universities (16 universities participated at the project together) but particularly about the transformation of architectural expression of students – prospective architects – per consequences of the entry of digital technologies into the architecture projecting practice.

I thank very much RBDF for the possibility to take part also at other projects. I lived the exceptional experiences through two project realized in the frame of European program Culture 2000: “Towards the common European Heritage by model of Cinque Terre National Park” (2005) and “Rescuing the hidden wooden European sacral heritage” (2006). Both these projects were inspired and partly also realized by RBDF in the beginning co-operation with ICOMOS. The following development and actual vivacious relationship between ICOMOS and RDBF are very useful so for our RDBF’s Environment as for the international movement for monument safeguarding and active use, too. The participation at all projects of common ICOMOS – RDBF co-operation give the unforgettable professional as well as personal experience. The know-how and practices from those projects are a source of inspiration up to now. I utilize these sources often by the consultation with my students or in the processes for the conservation and active using of Slovak architectural heritage.

Thanks for these occasions, dear friends from Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation! I wish full success to all your (and our mutual) “traditional” and new activities for to fill up the attractive but profound sense of Foundation’s motto!

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ALEXANDER KUDRYAVTSEV Russian Academy of Architecture and Construction Sciences Moscow Architectural Institute (1999-2011)

I’m sure, many will agree that the acquaintance with the Foundation starts with Paolo Del Bianco, its founder and permanent president.

A wide-brimmed hat, flattering coat, unruly beard, deep voice – all of it reminds romatic heroes of the Garibaldi age. They call to action and they win. A very appealing and promising image that opens up new horizons.

Then it becomes clear that the before everything else comes Florence, the city that leaves no Russian indifferent.

My friendship with the Foundation started with fantastic talks of the Florentine hospitability towards architects and artists from Russia, the creativity of cultural events in the city and that we – people from Moscow Architectural Institute – are welcome there.

Frankly speaking, in the late 1990s it didn’t sound too realistic: the world’s euphoria caused by Gorbachev’s Perestroika was long gone.

But in 2000 in Minsk there was a usual review of qualification projects of students from the CIS and some foreign universities, and Prof. A.V. Stepanov, President of the Architectural School Association, together with Prof. G.V. Polyansky, Dean of the Department of Architecture of Belarus Polytechnical University, show an honorary guest around the exhibition. That guest was Paolo Del Bianco. We’re being introduced to each other, I drop one or two words in Italian and it gives a start to a friendship that, I hope, will never end.

The very first idea of President of the Foundation was impossible (later I understood that almost all ideas of the Foundation at their initial stage seem impossible, but it truth they just require more effort) – to show the exhibition in Florence, which meant to show it to the whole Europe.

How? The whole exhibition? With students and professors?

The proposition not only to show the exhibition, but to hold the next event in Florence seemed to the audience of professors of architecture from all Russian schools absolutely unrealistic and Penza, a Russian town, won by majority of votes, leaving the architectural capital of Europe behind. However, a year later, in Penza, the idea looked totally implementable and of the proposition of Simone Giometti, the Envoy of the Foundation, was accepted as a triumph. Starting form year 2000 there first appeared a digital exposition of graduate architects from the CIS, and now “Diploma and Profession” portal became a rendezvous point for young architects from East and West, a true talents fair, supplemented annually by round tables, study groups, workshops – and the great Florence with its masterpieces of art.

Curiously, the life of the Foundation is also measured by its architectural achievements.

I remember the first review of qualification projects, when I was having a study group on the construction site of Al Duomo hotel. Now the magnificent Al Duomo amphitheatre hosts the major events of the Foundation, concerts during the Foundation festivals, the most attracting fashion shows.

Mr. President included Prof. Stepanov and myself into the expert community of the Foundation, which gave me an opportunity to collaborate and then make friends with various great people: men of culture, education, science, because the Foundation constantly increases its sphere of influence and swiftly reacts to the challenges of time. It is interesting that after the collapse of the USSR the Foundation became a place to meet and to share opinions on the problems of art and education for professors and scientists from the CIS countries, and we, Russians, have a fruitful discussion with our colleagues from Ukraine, Belarus, courtiers of Southern Caucasus and Central Asia, Baltic countries and Moldova. We value much the contacts with the specialists from Central and Eastern Europe , the comparison of different solution to similar problems – here, on the friendly ground of a beautiful city of a beautiful country, to which we owe much for the impulses of birth and development of the beauty. As I see it, our inherent gratitude sharply increases the effectiveness of the Foundation activities, gives birth to amazing initiatives and makes it possible to feel the pulse of global shocks. That why the Foundation moves from the cultural development of international students via Fiorentino – Days to global ecological problems, the world’s

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sustainable development and preservation of its cultural heritage.

I’m grateful for the support of the Foundation in our efforts in the valorization of the Soviet architectural Avant-Garde of 1920s-1930s. Sadly, but even today it requires an active protection after the years of neglecting, with still exists in Russia up to this particular moment. The Foundation in cooperation with Moscow Architectural Institute and Shchusev State Museum of Architecture organized in the prestigious building of Florence National Archive an exhibition dedicated to 1921 - 1932 Vkhutemas – Vkhutein – a higher education institution in the sphere of object planning, a counterpart of Bauhaus in its ideology and period of activity, the predecessor of Moscow Architectural Institute. The experimental architectural education in the form of term tasks, contests, models were presented to the accompaniment of audio and visual materials, where the stars of contemporary architecture spoke about the role of Vkhutemas the creation of the present architecture, its influence on their own works. Exclusively for that exhibition Markhi students reconstructed the banner of Vkhutemas, with their predecessors waved at the International Workers’ Day demonstrations. The exhibition had such a success and attracted a great number of students and professors thanks to Prof. E. Mandelli, one of the experts of the Foundation.

The Foundation together with ICOMOS, UIA and Russian organizations took part in a large-scale international conference “Preserving the 20th Century Architectural Heritage” in Moscow in 2006. Its purpose was to attract the attention of the government and the organizations dealing with preservation of heritage towards the destiny of the 20th century masterpieces. It is known that they are few in the UNESCO list of World Heritage. Soviet Avant-Garde in Moscow was specially highlighted at the conference. The climax of the event was, in my opinion, the reception of the ICOMOS deputation by Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov, who was told about the concerns of the international community with the physical state of that period’s buildings. The Foundation President P. Del Bianco, Vice-President D. Del Bianco, expert Prof. E. Mandelli took part in this pivotal meeting, when the Mayor proposed that ICOMOS should become the heritage preservation expert in Moscow.

The Conference adopted a very important resolution – to make UNESCO include eight Moscow architectural Avant-Garde masterpieces into the list of World Heritage. This resolution is an instrument of protection of a very fragile layer of the national heritage, though there is a long way to go till its full implementation.

The most important events took place in Markhi which main building was once occupied by the architectural department of Vkhutemas. The Foundation has a long history of cooperation or, to put it better, friendship with Markhi. Markhi takes part in all student programs of the Foundation, and the climax of the friendship was when the Foundation presented to Markhi a bust of Leonardo carved from a piece of marble from Carrara. The bust was officially installed in the Markhi main hall in 2009. The ceremony was visited by President Del Bianco, Markhi rector D. Shvidkovsky and also many professors and students.

Now, when the great Florentine watches closely our lives, I told my students a story very well known among architects that is connected with Shchusev, the author of the Lenin Mausoleum at the Red Square. When he was angry with a young architect who failed at following his instructions he used to tell him: “Now go stand beside Apollo Belvedere and see what a bad person you are!” (actually he used a more coarse word).

Addressing my students, I would like to convey the idea that the presence of Leonardo raises the professional and moral responsibility of the future architect who would compare himself with the genius. I walk frequently beside the statue and every time I remember the generosity of the Foundation and its president Paolo Del Bianco, an honorary doctor of Moscow Architectural Institute.

I was present when the birth of “Life Beyond Tourism” manifesto appeared. It marked a new direction the Foundation activities and I signed it along with prominent experts of the Foundation, such as A. Tomaszevsky from Poland with him we became close friends thanks to the Foundation.

The unique creative atmosphere of friendship, distinctive of the Foundation, as I see it, comes from the devotion of the whole Del Bianco family to the mission of the Foundation. Its origin is the grateful memory of the father, forever alive in the hearts of the descendants, who prove it by good deeds, charity, helping the great city and searching new ways of its development. Targeting at culture and education, the university community as a most resonating to the creative atmosphere of the city, there are 150 higher education institutions participation in the life of the Foundation. The sphere of influence of the Foundation widens, its platform grows involving the whole cities, President Del Bianco leaves his business to dedicate himself to the Foundation, the whole family is involved in, bringing family warmth to the Foundation, and we, its adepts, feel it and try to contribute as much as we can in its activities.

Today the Foundation is a renowned international humanitarian organization, its programs unite thousands of people from

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all continents. 15 years don’t look too much in the modern world, where thousands of organizations appear and fade away every day, but speaking about the Foundation, I can say that the whole generations grew up as more tolerant, educated, internationally integrated, friendly, keeping good memories of “Fiorentino Days” that were set up by the Foundation.

Russia has a significant place in the works of the Foundation. Its involvement in a wide specter of affairs in capitals, university centers, provincial towns that carry the traditional culture, Siberia and the Far East deserves a great respect. The experience of the Foundation seems to remind us that there is no hierarchy of important and unimportant in culture – the cultural field of the country is doubtfully interesting in the process of globalization. And the role of Russian culture in the dialogue between the West and the East that is constantly stimulated by the Foundation is far from being determined.

In the year of its anniversary the Foundation was awarded the Columbus prize in arts, science and entrepreneurship. It may be the most important award ever given to the Foundation. I would like to remind that it was preceded by the Russian A. Komech prize “For Honor and Dignity in the Preservation of Heritage” presented to President Del Bianco this spring in Moscow. The winners of this prize are great people, who dedicated their lives to the preservation of the national heritage.

The Foundation is the first foreign winner of the prize that is named after A. Komech – a well-known scholar, a researcher of the early Christian architecture and national heritage. He was a good friend of the Foundation, promoter of its ideas in Russia and the problems of Russia in the Foundation. He was my friend, my senior, my teacher in the aspect of preservation of the historical environment. When I asked him, what he knew about the Foundation, he said: “It’s a great undertaking with great people. They should be our friends!”

Certainly, I followed his advice, was involved in a great number of most interesting events together with the Foundation and I’m looking forward to many more years of productive cooperation.

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ALEXANDER KUZMICHEV Ivanovo City Administration

On the eve on the 15th anniversary of the Romualdo Del Bianco®–Life Beyond Tourism® Foundation and on the occasion of the prestigious Columbus Award delivery, please accept our sincere congratulations and acknowledgement of the activities you carry out in the name of peace and mutual understanding between people of different nations and cultures.

International relations have always been an essential part of the strategic development of the city of Ivanovo. The city authorities pay special attention to widening international ties with various governmental and non-governmental organizations and institutions in other countries. Ivanovo has several sister-cities, for example, Łódz´ in Poland, Staffordshire in Great Britain, Hannover in Germany, Kmelnitsky in the Ukraine, Cralevo in Serbia, etc. and we treasure our friendship with them.

Cooperation of Ivanovo City Administration and the Romualdo Del Bianco®–Life Beyond Tourism® Foundation opened a new page in the city’s local history and in the development of its international contacts. It officially started in 2011, when, on December 14, the Memorandum of Understanding under the Life Beyond Tourism® Ethos was signed. In fact, the contacts between Ivanovo and the Foundation have a much longer history. Since 2004, Ivanovo State University, one of the leading educational centres of Ivanovo region, has initiated and realized over a dozen of successful scientific and cultural projects supported by the Foundation. Both recognized scholars and students had a chance to visit Florence and take part in the international events organized under the patronage of the Foundation. Mr. Paolo Del Bianco, President of the Foundation, visited the University as a guest-lecturer promoting the Life Beyond Tourism philosophy to the younger generation. He was awarded the title of Professor Emeritus of Ivanovo State University in recognition of his personal contribution into the development of academic mobility.

One of the latest successful conjoint projects was the International Conference “Tourism and Hospitality without Borders: Trends and Prospects of Development” that was organized in Ivanovo on the basis of Ivanovo State University on May 31 – June 2, 2013, and supported by Ivanovo Regional Government, Ivanovo City Administration, the Romualdo Del Bianco®– Life Beyond Tourism® Foundation, “Dania” Academy of Business and Technologies (Denmark), and University of Yeditepe (Turkey). The conference got together over a hundred of participants from different countries who discussed the world trends of tourism market and shared their experience in tourism industry development. The implementation of an interdisciplinary approach to the study and development of tourism was one of the main purposes of the conference.

Nowadays, tourists are more and more looking for true experiences, for meeting and getting to know other people and other cultures. Thus, as we all understand, tourism policies need to adapt to these trends and develop a quality offer promoting local cultures and traditions and paying attention to sustainable aspects: preservation of the heritage, of the landscape, of the local culture. The Romualdo Del Bianco®–Life Beyond Tourism® Foundation is an excellent example of an institution that understands and promotes the ideas of sustainable tourism. We also share these values, trying to maintain our local identity, traditions and cultural heritage of the territory, to promote local crafts and to stimulate demand for their products. Therefore, it is quite evident that we should join our efforts in disseminating these common values and developing new approaches to tourism treated as a means of translating knowledge about peoples and countries worldwide.

The Life Beyond Tourism Non-Profit Portal launched by the Romualdo Del Bianco®–Life Beyond Tourism® Foundation a couple of years ago is a great way to present various territories of the world, with their cultural institutions and economic businesses, to show the true character of the places. That is why we did not hesitate when we were suggested to join the portal community and to contribute information about Ivanovo Region.

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On May 30, 2013, during the official meeting at Ivanovo City Administration, after the discussion on possible ways of further cooperation in the sphere of culture, science and education, Mr. Paolo Del Bianco was awarded a Certificate of Honour for his considerable contribution into the development of Russian-Italian relationships.

On behalf of Ivanovo City Administration and Ivanovo citizens, I wish the Romualdo Del Bianco®–Life Beyond Tourism® Foundation prosperity, fruitful work, new ideas and new partners who will join the Foundation in the noble deeds of intangible heritage preservation and intercultural dialogue promotion.

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MARC LAENEN ICCROM Director General (1992-2000) LIFE BEYOND TOURISM Thanks to Prof. Dr. Andrzej Tomaszewski ,former ICCROM Director,I met Paolo del Bianco at a dinner party in Florence in 2007, holding “ un bicchiere di vino” in our hands. We both agreed that the material expression of this beaker is only a “shell” of values and significances. We understood that the glass in its “material” substance may have its importance, but information about the wine, beer or vodka, that is (or rather was) in it, the way it was made, the reason why and how it has been decorated and the social occasions in which it was used, are relevant to understand its cultural significance for those who used it and for us today.

In March 2008 I contributed to the Life beyond Tourism initiative by drafting the Declaration of Intent signed by 59 heritage experts from 19 countries, in which objectives and an operational way for implementation of Paolo’s Life Beyond Tourism vision was designed. It was an honour for me to be invited to join the Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation-Life Beyond Tourism®, first as an expert and later as member of its Council, responsible for international relations and initiatives. Together with a group of competent professionals in the field of cultural heritage conservation and its interpretation and presentation, friends of the Foundation, we planned concrete action : an academic component for the development of ”best practices” of value based travel and the Life beyond Tourism Portal® as a platform for communication, experience exchange and the presentation by local partners, cities and territories, of their significant cultural and commercial initiatives and assets. This Portal is expected to generate financial support for local heritage conservation as well. Special focus is being given to UNESCO World Heritage listed sites which can become, apart from their exemplary role for conservation practice and territorial development, flagships for intercultural dialogue and for the development of humanity. Several governments of World Heritage listed cities and territories signed agreements with the Foundation for concrete pilot action.

The Life beyond Tourism concept puts new accents and sets new orientations for cultural heritage work: after more than a century of research and development of appropriate conservation methodologies and techniques, a wider framework for the implementation of cultural heritage “ social fruition” has been drafted. Such fruition, in our view, is integral and integrated: integral since it involves material and immaterial cultural heritage resources, that basically are intertwined, together and link these resources up with contemporary cultural expressions, shaping together the cultural personality of living environments past and present; integrated since it fits into development of territories and, above all, of humanity. We all understand that heritage conservation is very instrumental to enhance the cultural personality of living environments and their further development. Especially heritage tourism has shown its powerful strategic potential for regional economic, cultural and environmental development, using heritage resources as “basic material” for development. The results are interesting but Life Beyond Tourism takes the issue further by developing heritage resource interpretation and presentation polices and practice for intercultural dialogue, mutual understanding and ultimately for peaceful cohabitation and sustainable development of humanity. Its work focuses on value based travel and education and on ways of efficient communication about changing interpretations and implementations of heritage values by local communities and their impact on society and environment through history in different cultural environments. While identifying and presenting which values we have in common with other cultures, past and present, here and elsewhere on the one hand and why and how such commonalities locally and historically have been implemented in a different way on the other, Life beyond Tourism makes bridges between cultures and opportunities for understanding, appreciation and respect for other cultures. Such action does not apply only to remote cultures past and present but is relevant within our increasing multicultural societies, that urgently need initiatives for viable cohabitation based on mutual understanding and respect. We should understand that cultural identity or cultural personality is not a static issue, but a dynamic one. Identity “becomes”, it “grows”. The increasing multicultural complexity of our living environments, being the result of migration as it has been in the past, urges bridging action between different cultural realities within native environments as well as in mixed cultural societies, were autochthonous and immigrant population challenge cohabitation in one single living environment. Condition for success is tolerance, mutual respect based on intercultural dialogue. Only based on mutual respect the new cultural reality becomes a project were all involved cultural “societies” have a joint civic responsibility to make it happen. For such purpose the mere presentation of heritage resources

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needs additional communication methods, techniques and a specific, well focused ”story or message”, documented with relevant heritage and contemporary resources, using the application of the most efficient and cost-effective ways of information transfer. In this perspective current intellectual and analytical approaches for knowledge may need additional emotional and synthetic “entries” by means of more performative initiatives to be effective. Such multifaceted approach still needs research and development and can become “de facto” a vehicle for intercultural dialogue leading, if well managed, to mutual understanding and respect for “the others”. It underpins UNESCO’s Convention for cultural diversity, makes its implementation happen in the field. UNESCO’s Convention indeed needs, apart from support and enhancement of differences, knowledge and understanding of “the others”, since mankind needs more than one mirror to recognize itself. Therefore the recently created Life beyond Tourism Research Institute® and the Life beyond Tourism Portal® are the type of initiatives that help UNESCO and the regional and local governments to fulfill their mandates.

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VLADIMIR LESOVOY Kharkiv Medical University

As a rector of Kharkiv National Medical University, Ucraine, I am very glad to have the opportunity to congratulate you with 15th Anniversary of Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation, so important for all the friends gathered by its activity during all this years.

Our first meeting with Foundation was in 2006. The members of Rotary Club in Kharkiv, my native city, helped me to contact with my colleague Rotarian and professor of medicine Ricardo Gheri, the active member of the Foundation. He met us in our first visit to Florence and made us a warm reception, showed your beautiful city and acquainted with the world of Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation. He introduced us to Paolo Del Bianco and his family. That time we were involved into the work of conference which gathered in Florence the scientists from different countries of the world, we also had a great opportunity to visit the motherland of the Del Bianco family, we had an opportunity not only to enjoy the wonderful landscapes of Tuscany, taste unforgettable Tuscan cuisine, but to have heartwarming communication with Italian people and guests of that remarkable event.

The first meeting initiated our long and pleasant collaboration. During further years our colleges as Prof. Kovaleva, Prof.

Zhuravleva, Dr. Lisova and many other scientists of our university visited conferences and round tables, made their reports using the great opportunity to share our scientific achievements and to get acquainted with achievements of our colleagues from all over the world, by the kind invitation of the Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation. We are also very glad that our friend Riccardo Gheri became a member of Editorial Board of the scientific magazine of our university.

By my opinion nowadays in a period of great scientific progress is very important on the one hand to share our experience and on the other hand to save the great historical and cultural heritage of previous generations, only in this case we can move and develop on and on and the Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation with all its various activities contributes to these noble goals.

We are really happy to be part of this respectable society, and it is real pleasure to meet our confederates, people who are not indifferent to the actual problems, to the destiny of future generations. We are very proud of our collaboration with Romualdo Del BIanco Foundation which is already became a solid friendship.

We wish long life and prosperity to the Foundation and its founder which during so many years makes a great contribution to the scientific, historical and cultural exchange and makes possible meeting of people from a great number of different places, helps them to know better each other, life and culture of their countries.

We really hope that our friendship and collaboration will continue and bring us a lot of new interesting discovers, new friends and new invaluable experience.

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JACEK MAJCHROWSKI Krakow City Administration

The 15th anniversary of Fondazione Romualdo del Bianco is an important jubilee for Krakow authorities, as well as academic, scientific and artistic circles of our city.

Florence and Krakow have both been for years present on UNESCO’s list naming the most precious treasures of world heritage. The two cities also share a particularly careful approach to the stewardship of their cultural legacy. In fact, science, culture, as well as historical and cultural heritage and their protection constitute the groundwork of our partnership and the most vital facet of our cooperation, whose volume, intensity and cordiality we owe to the Foundation Romualdo del Bianco and the personal commitment of its President Paolo del Bianco.

I had the opportunity to personally meet President del Bianco in May 2005, when we celebrated the 10th anniversary of Krakow-Florence partnership. Together with Eugenio Gianni, responsible for international cooperation and partner cities in the Municipality of Florence, we discussed the potential of further developments in our cooperation. The substantial, yet particularly friendly meeting, made me realize that when initiating cooperation with Paolo del Bianco, we have gained a keen advocate of our cooperation with the capital of Tuscany and a devoted friend. Soon afterwards, in autumn 2005, a plaque commemorating the 20th anniversary of a Holy Mass celebrated by Pope John Paul II was installed at a Florence stadium. At the same time Krakow was introduced to Florentians with an exhibition entitled Cracovia Totus Poloniae Celeberrima Atque Amplissima Regia Atque Academia Insignis.

With time, the Foundation’s contribution to the development of our cooperation proved truly impressive. The personal commitment of Paolo del Bianco, who never failed to support our cities’ interrelationship, was recognized with the Honoris Gratia medal for services to Krakow.

Even before the Foundation was formally established, Paolo del Bianco invited Krakow’s leading universities: the Jagiellonian University, the Krakow University of Technology, the Academy of Fine Arts and the Academy of Music, to cooperate with the experts of the University of Florence. He also saw to it personally that the cooperation was not merely an incidental one off event. The Foundation’s support helped to regularly hold exhibitions of works by artists associated with the Krakow Academy of Fine Arts and soon turned concerts given by ensembles and soloists of the Academy of Music into an integral element of Florence’s cultural agenda. Hundreds of Krakovian students and academics were also given a chance to get more familiar with the cultural heritage of Florence and Italy.

Paolo del Bianco’s commitment to the development of cooperation between art restorers and architects of our cities also well deserves a mention.

It was thanks to his personal engagement and support that in the year 2000, when Krakow proudly held the title of the European Capital of Culture, we managed to organize a seminar and an exhibition both under the banner Krakow – Florence, Common Architectural Heritage.

Seven years later, we witnessed a bilateral conference focusing on the position of both our cities in the European civilization.

The conference became a significant element of the celebrations connected with the 750th anniversary of the foundation of Krakow on Magdeburg Law and the 15th anniversary of our cities’ friendship. The invited guests – recognized experts in art history, heritage protection and culture management – debated on the role of heritage in the development of historic centres, focusing on the most important phenomena that shaped the unique character that Krakow and Florence boast. When Florence hosted the ICOMOS conference in 2009, the Foundation facilitated a presentation of Krakow’s achievements in heritage protection and museology. Archecon, a Krakow-based architectural firm, prepared an exhibition showcasing our most impressive successes in renovation, including the restoration of the Cloth Hall with the Gallery of 19th c. Polish Art, the remodeling of Krakow’s Main Square and the creation of Europe’s only underground museum located right beneath it.

It is impossible to give a mention to all initiatives and events supported by the Foundation that through the years have reinforced the partnership between Krakow and Florence. It is much more important to notice that we keep on adding new items to the list, such as the Life Beyond Tourism project, which Krakow officially joined in April 2011.

I was particularly happy to hear that, when celebrating the 15th anniversary of its invaluable work, the Foundation Romualdo del Bianco will also join the eminent circle of those awarded with the prestigious Columbus Prize. It is our pleasure to

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share the joy of our friends and partners whose contribution to the development of international cultural cooperation and the development of Krakow-Florence partnership is unquestionable.

I would like to congratulate the President and the Foundation on their spectacular successes and impressive achievements.

Thank you for your friendship and your efforts to make the bonds between Krakow and Florence ever stronger! I hope you will enjoy many more successful years of fruitful activity, helping us all – as the Foundation’s philosophy requires – to discover the past together and build a shared future.

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GULCHOHRA MAMMADOVA Azerbaijan University of Architecture and Contruction SCD IN ARCHITECTURE, RECTOR OF AZERBAIJAN UNIVERSITY OF ARCHITECTURE AND CONSTRUCTION The Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation led by Mr. Paolo Del Bianco is instrumental in protecting, popularizing and exploring the historical heritage; promoting studies in the history of architecture and art; developing architectural education. Within 10 years of my acquaintance with Foundation activity I ascertained that the Foundation has incessantly been working in all directions above, holding geographically and quantitatively various actions.

Currently involved in the Foundation sphere are public institutions and municipalities, universities and scientific organizations, architects, scholars, students from all over the world. A secret of Foundation’s successes lies, in the first turn, in the unique personality of its President Paolo Del Bianco. Love for his calling, genuine service of Foundation ideals, creativity, purposefulness and insistency in all undertakings are distinctive features of the President.

It is his multilateral intellect, colossal creative energy and brilliant outward appearance that bring to mind the images of great Italians of the Renaissance. Talent and remarkable human merits of Paolo Del Bianco enabled him to create acquaintanceships that support his ideas and take an active part in his activity.

As is known, behind a successful man there is a strong woman – a caring friend, confederate and assistant. The words above refer in full to Giovanna Dani, a spouse of Paolo Del Bianco. She is an active participant of all actions and projects of the Foundation to make her great contribution to its activity.

It should be noted that the collaboration between the Azerbaijani Architectural-Engineering University and the Foundation started in 2003 when I first attended a Foundation-organized meeting of rectors of higher educational institutions. That was my first acquaintance with Foundation’s President Paolo Del Bianco, his family and team, my first meeting with Florence.

The town whose worldwide fame is well known from history of architecture manuals stunned me with a great quantity of marvelous monuments, with its appearance imbued with historical past. Every turn or crossing of its narrow streets offered new challenges of historical site development, well-known palazzo and churches. It became evident as urban quarters went by that I was aware just of insignificant part of treasures of architecture and sculpture that Florence keeps in its inmost recesses.

In spite of the fact that I visited Florence many times, I can contend that even today I’m still ignorant of priceless heritage of Florence. Every meeting with Florence is a Delight for soul and mind, a promise of new impressions enriching us with new knowledge and opening new pages of its rich history and priceless architecture. A great acknowledgement goes to Mr. Paolo Del Bianco who provided hundreds and thousands of people with opportunity to feel this holiday keenly, get to know Florence better, clearly imagine Toscana and thus cognize Italy!

It has to be kept in mind that the post-Soviet period of architectural schools, equally with the whole educational system of newly independent states proved to be time of reappraisal of know-how, research into the western system of higher education and search for ways of development to ensure integration into the western system of education, modernization of specialists training and preservation of traditions.

These questions were raised and addressed in the former Soviet Republics to comply with requirements arising from their social-economic development. Of paramount importance were relations with other architectural schools and exchange of information and experience to launch reforms in this area. Thus, the Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation played a key role on this track. The Foundation practical initiatives made it possible to strike up acquaintanceship, exchange views. Work Shops enabled students from different countries to unite into small groups, work together and compare their level of training with that of representatives of other architectural schools and thus identify strengths and weaknesses of students and specify tasks of educational process.

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Friendly, well-wishing, hearty attitudes of Foundation collaborators contributed to the unforgettable atmosphere of meetings attended by like-minded persons and friends of the Foundation. Every university involved in Foundation activity had a sort of Foundation “branches” composed of teachers and students taking part in its actions and maintaining close ties with the Foundation.

Giving a new impetus to the development of ties between various architectural schools were festivals “Degree and Profession” that focused on support of graduates from architectural schools, beginners, etc. A complex of measures within a framework of weekly programs provide an opportunity to review and compare hundreds of graduation theses, arrange meetings with experts in architecture, discuss scientific problems and inform about their universities, exchange experiences and finally commune with friends.

It a great honor for us that Mr. Paolo Del Blanco decided to hold the first regional festival “Degree and profession” in Baku at our University in 2010. It was his confidence and belief that enabled us to organize and hold the festival at the highest possible level. In two years, in 2012 one more festival “Degree and Profession” was held. Over the past few years the AAEU backed by the Foundation convened a great number of events, including scientific conferences as major ones.

An international conference “The 21 Century and Traditional Islamic City”, Baku, 2007, was the precise spot where Paolo Del Blanco had first presented his grandioso project “Live beyond tourism” – a new concept of tourism aimed at intimate acquaintance with various cultures. A noble idea of respect to various cultures, contribution to their conservation and development put forward by a representative of world’s oldest and richest culture was welcomed with great interest and enthusiasm. Currently collaborating within the framework of the project are tens of towns, institutions, universities, tourist associations, including our University and administration of Icheri Sheher, a historical fortress of Baku, as well as the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Azerbaijan.

Topical for the present-day world, a concept of the project is consonant with the policy of multiculturalism support pursued

by Azerbaijan. To our thinking, this direction of Foundation’s activity is of far-reaching importance.

In the years that followed the AAEU in association with the Foundation convened several conferences as follows: · International conference “The Historical Architectural Heritage in the New Social and Political Situation”, 02.2008 · International conference “Problems of Preservation of Architectural Heritage and Architectural Education”, 11.2008 International conference “Preservation and Adaptation of Architectural Heritage”, 11.2010 Conferences arranged by us jointly with the Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation made it possible to draw in the Foundation activity not only collaborators of our University but also the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan, architectural-design organizations of the country, as well as representatives of the Islamic countries, including Turkey, Iran, Morocco, Syria, etc.

Besides, we set up student workshops, including: “Architectural heritage and tourism”, 11. 2008 “Sculpture and sculpture works in Florence”, 11. 2009 “Sustainable future: city territories for meeting and dialogue”, 11, 2010 “Symbols and elements of visual communication for youth action: on example of the Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation’s actions for young generation”, 11, 2011 The 7th annual meeting of the ICOMOS ISC TheoPhilos, in collaboration with the Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the AAEU titled “Heritage under Pressure– Perspectives of Historic Urban Landscape (HUL)” was held in Baku, April, 2012.

A true Florentine, Mr. Paolo Del Bianco is a successor to centuries-long traditions. He is an honorary professor of the

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Azerbaijani Architectural-Engineering University. Services of the professor are highly appreciated by public structures of Azerbaijan. In April 2013, President of the Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation, Mr. Paolo Del Bianco was honored with “National Heritage Award” at a ceremony arranged by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Azerbaijan Republic.

It should be added that this award is conferred upon persons and organizations that proved their worth in propaganda, research, protection, conservation and use of the Azerbaijani cultural heritage.

The Foundation’s friends were happy to congratulate Mr. Paolo Del Bianco with a prestigious award of Columbus. It was no mere coincidence that Paolo Del Bianco’s activity around his project “Life beyond Tourism” won a high appraisal of the Rotary Club that greatly contributes to the dissemination of lofty ethic standards in all the areas of human life. Mr. Paolo Del Bianco was nominated to the award for the development of inter-national cultural relations and propaganda of cultural identification of every people worldwide. An eloquent testimony to his fruitful activity on this tract were Foundation’s friends that came from different countries to attend the ceremony.

The Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation is continuing with its creative initiatives. Today, the Foundation is stronger, confident and richer in its potential than yesterday. Mr. Paolo Del Bianco is surrounded with an excellent collective of like-minded persons – energetic, creative and noble people. Together with the President, the Foundation is presently headed by young generation of Del Bianco – his daughters Carlotta, Caterina and Corinna Del Bianco.

Observations set forth above give hope to believe that the Foundation will henceforward proceed with its activity and keep on uniting hundreds of people to attain its noble aims. And the Azerbaijani Architectural-Engineering University will always be in the first ranks of friends and associates of the Foundation.

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ZOHRAB MELIKYAN National University of Architecture and Construction, Yerevan

For 15th Anniversary of the Foundation ROMUALDO DEL BIANCO Commemorative publication

Dear President Paolo Del Bianco Dear Secretary General Simone Jiometty Dear friends

I cordialy congratulate you and all members on 15th Gloriouse Anniversary of the “FONDAZIONE ROMUALDO DEL BIANCO”

I was lucky when in mid 1990 I had an opportunity to meet to Poulo Del Bianko, the president of the Foundation “ROMUALDO DEL BIANCO”. He was invited to paerticipate at the selelebration of 80 aniversarry of the Yerevan State University of Architecture and Construction, Armenia. In his speech Poulo Del Bianko presented the main goals of activities of the foundation, underlining the following program: "For peace in the world, among young people of different countries, through culture –meeting, getting acquainted, understanding each other to develop friendship among peoples.", “Organization of the international workshops for students and working international groups”, “International encounters without competition, respecting individual identities – Discovering the past together, working to build a shared future”, which later in 1998 were underlaide in the Constitution of the Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation. All stated declerations were very acceptable by students of our university and impresive for most of attendees. It was a pleasure to learn about such intentions promoted suggested by a representative of Italian nation very respected for Armenians.

Later, when I was envolved in the foundations activities as an expert, I deeply sensed all humaneness of the program of the Foundation.

During all 15 years of its existance the Foundation with participation and help of secretary general Simone Jiomety realized many important and useful initiatives which have had a deep impact over the time in personal and professional life especially for young people of different countries.

I am sure the Foundation Romualdo Del Bianko will continue its activities that are very required by Youfness of all progressive societies of the world.

I wish new success and continuation of the good job.

Congratulations again and Long Live.

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SARAH MEREDITH LIVINGSTON University of Wisconsin-Green Bay

It is truly an honor and priviledge to be writing these words in honor of Paulo Del Bianco, the Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation and this prestigious award that is being awarded.

I was fortunate to have a Rotary Stipend for University Teachers in 2001-2002 and taught as a guest professor at the Academy of Music and Dance, Bratislava, Slovakia, 2001-2002. In February, 2002, the Dean who I worked with, Professor Egon Krak, invited me to attend the International Roundtable of the Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation in Florence, Italy. He described it as a new international gathering of academics from all over the world organized by a foundation that promotes world peace and understanding. I had been to Italy once before as a young singer but had never been to Florence. I accepted without hesitation and little did I realize, it was going to be a life-changing experience. It was an inspiring experience but the most incredible part of this trip was going to the Roundtable and meeting the Del Bianco family and over 100 academicians from many parts of the world. As I had always wanted to serve our nation as a diplomat in the Foreign Service, (but became a singer instead), I felt I had been handed a gift by having the chance to be part of this event.

Here I had the chance to actually connect with like-minds from all over the world in an historic setting to talk about our fields and exchange ideas about art, music, Italy, international education and the world’s future. I returned to my university in the fall and spread the word about the Foundation, its work and how we could be connected to them. It was the beginning of our fruitful collaboration. From 2003-2008, I took over 70 students to Florence to experience Italy and its rich culture on a program I entitled Vocalissimo. Many of these students have since then returned to Italy as students/tourists. Some of them sang in a concert that was held when Mr. Del Bianco was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from UW-Green Bay in 2007. Several of these students have also continued living and working in Europe. Their trip to Italy gave them a taste of international travel and study and gave them the confidence to travel there again on their own. Highlights of these trips were singing in some of the most prestigious and exquisite venues in Florence that were organized by the Foundation. I also remember my birthday happened during one of the student trips and I celebrated it on the top of the Laurus Hotel with the Del Bianco family and my students…what an incredible memory for all of us.

Another high point in our continued relationship with the Foundation is being the recipient university of the gift of LEONARDO sculptor piece that will be unveiled in May, 2014. This beautiful work of art that will be placed in the Arboretum on our campus. It will serve as an eternal reminder and symbol of the importance of international collaboration and how you make this possible.

It it truly an honor for me to be part of this long-term relationship. I am commiteed to working hard to continue the exchange and collaboration of the Foundation with UW-Green Bay and with the other 1 70 academic institutions that are involved. I would also like to connect you to another new-found academic institution I have discovered recently, University of Sao Paulo-Ribeirao Preto, Brazil.

Lastly, I want to thank Professor Egon Krak, Sue Hammersmith, former Provost-UWGB, and Julia Wallace, Provost, UWGB, and Dean Scott Furlong, UWGB, for their unending support in recognizing the importance of this relationship for UW-Green Bay and their support in helping to maintain it.

The existence of the Foundation and the spirit in which they carry out their work has truly been like a dream for me. It has connected me to academic institutions from Croatia, Italy, Georgia, Uzbekistan, Poland, Slovakia just to mention a few, and given me and others on my campus a working base to bring people from our respective fields together. It serves as a thread of gold that keeps winding through my journey of international teaching, performing, collaborations…all working toward world peace and understanding.

Thank you, Paulo Del Bianco and the Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation for having the vision and providing the avenues to help educate students and faculty of the world. It is your foundation’s generosity and insight which has allowed institutions such as ours to actively participate in the promotion of tolerance and world peace.

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ÉVA MESTER Restorer

I met Paolo Del Bianco and his family, including his mother and father Romualdo del Bianco in 1996. This year marked the beginning of a dialogue between the students and teachers of universities from various countries which had been under the influence of the Soviet Union previously, a dialogue which is still continuing. Representatives from Poland (the universities of Cracow and Warsaw), the Czech Republic (Prague), Belorussia and Hungary (Budapest) as well as two professors from Japan attended the first meeting. Paolo Del Bianco set up a board that put forward proposals for the type of cooperation between students. The board accepted the proposal by the Budapest University of Technology, which was basically the bridge concept. Bridge in the literal sense of the word is a product of engineering, a historical artefact like for example the Ponte Vecchio, but it is an imaginary concept as well: something that connects countries, regions and cultures. I joined the activities of the foundation as a glass artist, restorer and expert in heritage conservation. I even made the following reference to the Foundation in my doctoral thesis: „I would like to thank the Italian Romualdo Del Bianco foundation for its generous support, and the opportunity to take part in research projects related to my field of interest for over a decade now." As a project leader I could organize international student workshops in Florence, where I had the opportunity to work and think together with the professors and students of various universities from Eastern Europe.

The Foundation has had a very positive impact on my professional and personal life as well as that of students and professors who have taken part in Foundation's activities. It made them realize the importance of the community, intercultural relations and human values. Anybody who has attended these events will look at the world and Florence in a different way. Paolo Del Bianco and his family have been the driving force behind all this, and have provided full support to participants. The days I and other professors spent at Forte dei Marmi with Paolo's family are unforgettable. Just like the Carnival festivities in Viareggio and the visit to the marble mines in the mountains of Pietra Santa, and those summer days at the magnificent beaches, the operas, the fantastic excursions in the mountains to the former estates of the Medici.

With the strengthening of globalisation I believe that the activities of the Foundation play an important role in the education of young people by showing an example to follow. Today I see a tremendous opportunity in the relaxed atmosphere of webinars. The global crisis has made travelling more difficult for some people, but I believe that if students can start participating in the work of the Foundation through web conferences, they will be more likely to contribute later by attending the Foundation’s events in person as well.

I wish the Foundation success in the future and an increasing number of people who support the Foundation and take part in its activities!

Viva Florence! Viva Romualdo Del Bianco Fondatione!

Best regards

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MARIA MURAWSKA Academy of Music of Bydgoszcz Dear Paolo, What do architecture and music have in common? Both are fields of art that shape the space around us. Whereas music does this through sounds, architecture does it by means of forms.

Both art fields affect the way we feel and both shape our awareness and sensitivity. With these words I would like to start my discussion of the twenty-five-year-long cooperation between the Feliks Nowowiejski Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz and the Romualdo del Bianco Foundation from Florence, which began in 1998.

It was Prof. Romana Przybyszewska-Gudelis, who initiated the cooperation, Prof. Roman Poszowski being rector of the Academy at the time. The valuable idea popularized by the Foundation that young people of various nationalities might meet together – 'for peace in the world, among young people of different countries through culture' – resulted in a trip taken by a group of teachers and students from Bydgoszcz to the capital city of Tuscany, and I am pleased to have been among them. On 26th November 1998, in St Felix church in Florence, the music of Bach, Vivaldi and Handel was performed by soloists and the Bydgoszcz Music Academy Chamber Orchestra under Prof. Pawel Radzinski's baton. The audience, among whom were Foundation representatives, gave the Polish artists an enthusiastic welcome.

The moment we considered particularly important during our trip was meeting the Foundation president, Paolo del Bianco, who, in his welcome speech, spoke of the great ideas of Renaissance humanism, the origins of which were in Florence in the last decades of the 14th century, and of the notion of value in the modern, commercialized world. It was therefore an exceptional opportunity for young people to be able to meet in the city which once became the cradle of humanism, which in turn affected the cultural, political, social and literary landscape of Europe. Paolo del Bianco's historic speech opened a new dimension in the mutual cooperation between the Foundation and the Academy.

The years that followed saw more Polish students participating in various workshops organized in Florence. Among them perhaps the most valuable was the 2004 project called 'Young Musicians to Florence', in which young participants that represented different countries (among them students of our Academy) composed musical works that served as a tribute to the capital city of Tuscany and performed them in a shared concert held at the Luigi Cherubini Conservatoire of Music.

The output that resulted from the artists' participation in the project would never have come into existence without the Foundation's helping hand.

The meetings that our students have joined during the workshops in Florence must have had a lasting effect on their personal development – not merely the development of their professional skills, but, what is more, a profound change in their perception of the outside world through the various cultures that the students had an opportunity to familiarize themselves with while working on the joint project.

The day of 15th March 2008 remains among my fondest memories. It was on that day that, together with a number of Foundation experts, I signed the 'Declaration of Intent. Life Beyond Tourism. For Intercultural Dialogue', and the Feliks Nowowiejski Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz was awarded with the Foundation medal for the 'long-lasting relationships of cooperation and friendship, and [its] belief in the mission of the Foundatio'. Taking great pride in the reward, I brought the medal back home.

President Paolo del Bianco has paid several visits to the Bydgoszcz Academy, which, except discussing matters related to developing and presenting new ideas and forms of further cooperation, each time also meant friendly talks and a shared experience of listening to music .

Considering the twenty-five years of cooperation with the Foundation, I am pleased to say with confidence that it has helped a number of young artists representing our Academy to develop their individuality. The multicultural character of the workshops held in Florence, their high professional standards and the direct contact with the greatest works of the art of Florence, the students have had an opportunity to become yet more fully engaged in the world of European culture. Let us hope that neither the economic crisis nor financial difficulties currently experienced by many higher education institutions will deter the Foundation from further developing its cooperation with the institution in the spirit of social, academic and cultural integration.

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PIOTR NAPIERAŁA Palaces and Gardens of Jelenia Góra Valley Foundation

Dear Paolo, Dear Friends from the Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation It is a great honour for me that I can share my thoughts and memories from cooperation with your Foundation, and particularly with its President Paolo Del Bianco in such special circumstances as on the 15th anniversary of its establishment.

When in 2004 at the REMO conference in the Kliczków castle in Poland organized by prof. Jerzy Jasien´ko I met Paolo Del Bianco for the first time, I knew nothing about the Foundation created and managed by him. At that time, the information included in the conference agenda that he was the President of a foundation connected with Florence and Tuscany seemed not too important to me because, dealing mainly with conservation of historical monuments in Poland and Germany, I did not think that traditions and experiences of the Italian Foundation could be of any particular professional importance to me.

However, when I heard the speech of Paolo Del Bianko during the conference, when I participated in a broader discussion in which he took part, I was under enormous impression of his personality. The expression, involvement, determination, strength in communication of thoughts, ideas or information were astonishing to me. Universal and clear communication of ideas of the Foundation and brief presentation of its activities caused my enormous interest in it. Its message, treating cultural heritage as an element of meetings between people, meetings leading to better mutual understanding of various cultures and values, used for integration between various nations, became particularly close to me. In any case, this was the common perception of this appearance. I wanted very much to get to know this extraordinary man better but Paolo had to leave Kliczków, and besides he was continuously surrounded by a group of his Polish friends and he was in fact inaccessible to me. Only after he left, my knowledge about the Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation and its President began quickly to get richer and richer. My acquaintances and friends, who had known Paolo for many years, cooperated with his Foundation and thanks to them I became closer to the extraordinary person of the president and the foundation itself. It was characteristics and astonishing to me that each of my interlocutors, when talking about Paolo, was doing it with such enormous excitement which confirmed only my observation from the conference in Kliczków. First, professor Jerzy Jasien´ko, who met Paolo several years earlier, introduced him as an extraordinary man, full of passion, energy, as well as warmth and kindness for other people. Later I heard almost identical descriptions from prof. Andrzej Kadłuczka, prof. Kazimierz Kus´nierz and prof. Elz˙bieta Trocka - Leszczyn´ska. It only fomented my special interest in the activities of the Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation.

It coincided in time with my activities in the Jelenia Góra Valley and somehow discovering of its unique cultural heritage. I could not understand why this area of Poland, so much saturated with historical monuments, so culturally diverse, so rich artistically, with such unusual history, is broadly underappreciated in our country. Landscape and nature-related values of the Jelenia Góra Valley, connected with the ridge of the Karkonosze and Rudawy Janowickie mountains, were commonly appreciated, but cultural heritage was somehow unnoticed. I was aware of political and ideological conditions which had an effect on such limited knowledge about heritage of the region. After the 2nd world war, these areas similarly to the entire Lower Silesia, experienced enormous exodus of the population and in this way cultural continuity of these areas was interrupted. Furthermore, in the communist system the goal was to erase awareness of the splendour of these areas and activities of its former inhabitants. However, at the beginning of the 21st century, after the big system transformation which changed situation in Poland, such condition of common unawareness of unique cultural value of the Jelenia Góra Valley had to change.

I think that just inspired by cultural, educational, social, popularizing activities of the Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation, I decided to create the Foundation of Palaces and Gardens of the Jelenia Góra Valley to present multicultural values of the region by means of its activities. Bearing in mind the manifesto of the Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation and its conceptual assumptions aiming at multicultural dialogue, I decided to make use of these ideas in actions of our Foundation. These actions quickly brought about some effects. The Valley of Palaces and Gardens was entered by President of the Republic of Poland in the prestige List of Historical Monuments, and local authorities set up a cultural park of the Jelenia Góra Valley.

Of course, it is only the beginning of the road to full understanding of this heritage, but very spectacular one. Obviously, I

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am not trying to compare here these two organizations. Activities of the Romualdo Del Bianko Foundation, covering with its reach multicultural dialogue on a global scale, absolutely exceed our even the broadest plans and visions, but the idea of breaking barriers, even the barriers of unawareness, is common.

When wonderful professors: Jerzy Jasien´ko, Andrzej Kadłuczka and the late Andrzej Tomaszewski, involved in the idea of monument protection, who were friends with Paolo Del Bianko and, I will say immodestly, also with me, began to support intensively activities of the Foundation of the Valley of Palaces and Gardens, it became almost obvious that they also tried to ensure as close cooperation between both Foundations as possible. I was honoured when several years ago I was invited to Florence for presentation of activities of our Foundation. Later many times I took part in conferences and meetings organized by Paolo Dell Bianco in Florence. All of this resulted in signing of an agreement about continuous cooperation between the Foundation of the Valley of Palaces and Gardens in the Jelenia Góra Valley and the Romualdo Dell Bianco Foundation in spring 2013. For me it is a great honour and privilege to be in the group of partners of such outstanding Foundation. I would like to focus, as much as possible, on achieving the main two goals of the Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation – Life Beyond Tourism and Intercultural Dialog.

At this point, I would like to mention three situations which made the biggest impression on me and encouraged me to collaborate as broadly as possible with the Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation.

1.

Meeting in Paris in 2010 at the General Assembly of ICOMOS in the UNESCO office. Paolo Dell Bianco gave me a publication dedicated to the memory of professor Andrzej Tomaszewski, a wonderful man, prominent scholar and, as I have mentioned, very close to me in the last years of his life when he actively supported our activities in the Jelenia Góra Valley. I was especially touched by the fact that the Romualdo Dell Bianco Foundation, in order to honour memory of the Polish professor, prepared not only this publication, not only organized a special scientific session dedicated to his memory, but also called the wonderful Auditorium in Aurelius Hotel in Florence with his name. This is the Auditorium where the most important events organized by the Foundation take place. I remembered then a situation from many years ago when one of the lecture halls in the Wrocław University of Technology received the name of my father, several years after his death, and how this event effected my further life decisions.

2.

In 2011 in Florence, an international conference dedicated to the Domes of the World took place. Its organizer was of course the Romualdo Dell Bianco Foundation. One of the initiators of the conference was professor Jerzy Jasien´ko who could not take part in it in person because of important family reasons. During the conference, President of the Foundation many times mentioned his name as an absent initiator, emphasizing his contribution in this important undertaking. And they were not only casual or courtesy reminders, but warm and kind thanks.

3.

This spring, Paolo together with his colleagues showed us the renovated office of the Foundation in the Coppini palace in Florence, presenting exhibits, souvenirs and gifts that the Foundation received during many years of its activities from guests and delegations from all over the world. The fact that almost about every gift Paolo was talking with great passion, describing to us not only exhibits from the collection, but talking about circumstances and people from whom he received them, made me aware beyond all doubt that the idea of intercultural dialogue and using cultural heritage for meeting people, for starting friendships, for better understanding followed by him and by the Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation is not only a slogan or high-flown idea, but an unusual and lively evidence of actions and passions of Paolo.

I have quoted here only a few events but each of them illustrates how important to Paolo are people he works with, with whom he meets and how much he fulfils the idea that he is propagating. When I found out that Paolo became a winner of the prestige Columbus Prize - Art, Science, Enterprise, I could not help my conviction that the jury of this prize could not make a better choice. It will be a great honour and prestige for me to participate in this sublime ceremony.

Similarly, it is an honour for me to become invited for the 15th anniversary of activities of the Romualdo Dell Bianco Foundation to share my thoughts from cooperation with such wonderful people who make such an outstanding team.

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KOJI NISHIMOTO University of Tokyo Istituto Giapponese di Cultura a Roma (1994-1997) Fifteenth anniversary of the "Romualdo Del Bianco Faoundation"! How quickly the TIME flies!!

I still remember perfectly well that morning in spring, 1996 -- a year before the start of the "Del Bianco Foundation"-- on which we, Paolo and myself, met for the first time. I was then Director of the "Istituto Giapponese di Cultura a Roma" in Valle Giulia district of the Eternal City.

That morning, my secretary came up and annouced a visit, of certain gentleman Paolo del Bianco by name, with a letter of indtroduction from my former student who had become since Italian government scholarship fellow at University of Siena. Wondering what was the matter about, I told the secretary to show the gentleman in. And there, briskly walked into my office a man with such enthusiasm and convincing eloquence that at our first meeting I was completely carried away, consenting to join efforts in setting up a movement for the promotion of international understanding, and that through inviting young people from various countries to Firenze, putting them together in the same workshop, in order to foster cooperation as well as friendship.

So far as I know, that was the start, the very start of the "Del Bianco Foundation". Since then, we met again and again in Rome, in Firenze and also at Massa di Carrara where Paolo has a nice villa. On these occasions, together with other friends and supporters, we had hot discussions about how to get Paolo's generous ideas into shape. All this, but above all the indefatigable zeal Paolo displayed in persuing his ideal, was the main force that made "Del Bianco Foundation" come into being in the early summer, 1997.

Only a couple of months before that, however, in March, 1997, my directorship for the "Istituto Giapponese di Cultura" having come to an end, I had to leave Italy and come back to Japan. Non the less, our cooperation didn't cease at that point.

With his insatiable curiosity and appetite for new field of action, Paolo came in fact several times to Tokyo and Kyoto to see his Japanese friends. We discussed, despite economic recessions which hit world economy in the meantime and political tensions which hindered and are still hindering the free exchange of ideas and information, the way to develop human network to involve East Asia more actively in the projects of the foundation.

Apart from East Asia, Paolo's activity extended toward Eastern Europe (Poland, Czek Republic, etc.) bringing ever increasing number of young people to meet at the heart of the beautiful Arno Valley.

Indeed as Callimaco, hero of great Machiavelli's play "Mandragola" states: 'Di cosa nasce cosa, e il tempo la governa.'(=Things come out of things, and the Time disposes them.), the "Del Bianco Foundation" in these 15 years has expanded enorumouly its activities, diversified them tremendously. There still remains, however, the task of making it a global system, making it a meeting point for young people who wish to cooperate for peace and friendship. The same Machiavelli in his greatest masterpiece "Il Principe"(=The Prince), also asserts that the Time, or Fortune, governs only half of our action, the other half being at the disposal of the man of virtue with strong will.

It is strongly hoped for, then, that the next, younger generation carry still higher the standard raised by Paolo 15 years ago, and make the "Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation" known to the world!

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SERGIU NISTOR University of Architecture and Urbanism Ion Mincu, Bucharest ICOMOS Romania The Romualdo del Bianco Foundation at its 15th anniversary: Firenze again a place binding East and West I owe my first contact with Romualdo del Bianco Foundation to the late Hristina Staneva, distinguished Bulgarian professor and architect, whose memory I want to pay my deepest respect.

It happened in 2002 that together with a group of students from the University of Architecture and Urbanism Ion Mincu from Bucharest (UAUIM) I participated at the workshop organized jointly by the Foundation and the Faculty of Architecture of Sofia. I found a warm atmosphere of friendly and professional integration without competition that made me organize in the next years several groups of students to attend the Foundation International Workshops.

In the years that followed the role of the Foundation developed little by little and its present status of main partner to many universities throughout Central and Eastern Europe, as well as in Asia, is rewarding the vision of the Founders and their great heart and commitment. The Foundation plays an important role in ICOMOS, as member and secretariat of the TheoPhilos ISC and partner in the organization of the future General Assembly, not surprizingly hosted in Firenze.

But the Foundation main contribution lies, in my opinion, in the re-binding of cultures and civilizations, thru the networking of their young professionals or academic structures. In late 1990’s and early 2000’s the work of the Romualdo del Bianco Foundation made us get a better understanding of our neighbor’s culture and heritage. In a period in which many of us were looking “over the fence” only towards the West, until 1990 forbidden, the Romualdo del Bianco made us discover the richness of the Central and Eastern European heritage, the outstanding contribution of the Oriental cultures to the World civilization. Bridging the gap between cultures thru students working together will show very soon its profit to a better understanding of the contribution of all nations, including those emerged from the Berlin Wall collapse, to the richness of the World Heritage. 50 years after the Charter of Venice, Firenze and The Romualdo del Bianco Foundation witness in 2014 the title of the proceedings of the 1964 Venice Congress: Le monument pour l’homme (The Monument for Man).

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TAMARA PETRASHOVA National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University

MAKING HIGHLY QUALIFIED, CULTURED AND EDUCATED ENGINEERING MAJORS STUDENTS Founded in 1896, Tomsk Polytechnic University (TPU) turns out to be the oldest technical educational establishment in the Asian part of Russia behind the Urals. It was founded as Tomsk Technological Institute of Emperor Nicholas II. From its beginning, the University has sought to be excellent in all spheres. There is no doubt that the mutual efforts of its scientists, teachers, students, and alumni have made for the whole period of the university existence a valuable contribution to the development of the Russian science, education, industry, and culture. TPU, pursuing its aim, has always provided its students with an education that combines diverse traditions and innovations. This particular feature distinguishes TPU from other educational establishments. Therefore, the leading role of TPU and its significant influence on the Russian culture has been marked by the inclusion of TPU into the "List of the most valued objects of the Russian cultural heritage" by the order of the President of the Russian Federation of April 2, 1997. Moreover, it is worth mentioning that one of the buildings of the university campus, the Main building, refers to the federal list of the Tomsk cultural heritage monuments.

Cooperation with other universities and collaboration at the international level has always been one of the priorities of Tomsk Polytechnic University activities. Therefore, when Olga Karpova, Professor of Ivanovo state University being the Coordinator of one of the projects supported by the Foundation ‘A Dictionary without Boundaries: Florence in the Works of World Famous Italians’ first introduced it and described its activities at the conference held in Ivanovo in 2009, it produced a great impression of an event, participation in which could give a lot in terms of acquiring new knowledge about other cultures and learning more about the cultural diversity interaction. The project focus was to study Florentine cultural heritage and reflection of its influence in both Italian and world cultures presented in the works of writers, artists and composers who once lived in or visited Florence and got inspired by the city, its museums, monuments, architecture and people. However, initially there was an uncertainty about joining the project. The main problem at that moment was to realize how engineering students interested in physics, mathematics and other natural sciences could be involved into the project activities and benefit of doing research not related to their majors. Nevertheless, in 2010 the first group of students from Tomsk Polytechnic University became the participants of the project contributing to it by introducing the works of writers, artists and scientists who lived in Russia and in the Siberian region, and found their inspiration visiting Florence. To say that the first experience of engineering majors students participating in such an unusual project was a success is equal to say nothing. It has become obvious that the idea of the project is spread much deeper than mere visiting a foreign country and going sightseeing. It assumes not only to establish an effective framework for intercultural communication but also it helps develop such skills as working in teams including international ones, skills necessary to work with different information sources, abilities to take leadership, abilities to create a product that meets user’s requirements, and besides it provides a unique opportunity to explore the world’s diversity enlarging the advanced knowledge about it. Moreover, its philosophy rests on promoting intercultural dialogue and instilling a love and careful attitude in younger generation towards both world’s cultural heritage and the heritage of a man’s land. All of these are crucial for a person, and it does not matter what a professional field he or she belongs to.

As for the TPU students, all of them who have been involved into the Foundation’s initiatives and participated in the seminars aimed at international students’ integration note that the Foundation provides a large opportunity, and the participation in the event has the major impact on their understanding of the world communication. They highlight why it turns to be so important personally for them, and for their professional and educational life. They emphasize that they have gained an experience of an international event. They have met new friends and interesting people. Those who have visited a foreign country for the first time describe their indelible impression of new atmosphere, different people, buildings and places. From students’ point of view, the trip to Italy is very useful since it proves to be highly cognitive and memorable. Students are supposed to visit a lot of interesting places – Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral, Palazzo Strozzi, Palazzo Vecchio, Palazzo Pitti, Piazza del Michelangelo, San Marco Museum, Academia della Crusca, Academia Gallery, Boboli Garden, Bargello Museum. They can enjoy masters’

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drawing and works of famous sculptors such as Donatello, Michelangelo, Da Vinci, Botticelli, Stradivari etc. They have a chance to get to know more about Florentine royal family Medici. What is more unbelievable is a possibility to meet, for example, the mayor of the city Krakow and shake his hand.

The outcomes of taking part in the project have exceeded students’ imagination and expectations. Without doubt, the consequences will have a lasting effect. They only wish more engineering majors students could take part in such workshops. And they hope that cooperation between universities- partners and the Foundation will continue.

It is a strong belief that activities promoted by Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation give an exceptional opportunity for the participants to be imbued with the ideas of the Foundation initiatives related to cultural heritage and cultural expression that are significant for the development of intercultural dialogue and communication.

Advancing the activities and philosophy of “Life Beyond Tourism”, the Foundation makes the participants realize that the promotion has a deeper sense because this activity helps understand better, first of all, our own country or region with its unknown and unique places of interest, outstanding people and traditions. Being involved into the global intercultural dialogue, individual cultural narratives acquire a chance to force their identity.

The Foundation initiatives are surely can be viewed as innovating phenomena of the century that help develop intercultural dialogues, bring various human communities with different values and beliefs into contact and enhance mutual understanding by providing a well-designed series of opportunities both to introduce and enlarge knowledge. The more important is that a particular attention is paid to foster intercultural communication, understanding and tolerant attitude in younger generations. Its activities can be seen as offering something more or different to what is called just ‘tourism’ since cultural heritage is significant to all different communities, groups and individuals depending on their value since it is a key factor in the social, economic, and political promotion of nations.

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MARIA PROKOPP Eötvös Loránd Tudományegyetem University

Dear President Paolo Del Bianco,

First of all would like to congratulate you for the 15th anniversary of the Foundation Romualdo Del Bianco. I am very glad that I could take part in the activity of the Fondation from its beginning.

In 1999, our Department of Art History at the Faculty of Humanities of the Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest, Hungary received your invitation to take part in the activity of the Foundation. In the following years I took part many times in the excellent international student-workshops of your Foundation.

They were always very useful for me as a project leader and also for our students! It was a great experience to get to know the famous monuments in Florence, to make friends with students coming from different parts of the World and to enjoy your kind, generous hospitality, too. A lot of our ex-students made use of the experiences of your student-workshops in their career.

Just to mention a few examples when our students gave presentations on different subject matters related to Florence: •

In 2001 (on 10 February 2001) Anna Tüskés in the Museum of Fine Arts of Budapest talked about the panel–painting of Domenico Ghirlandaio: Saint Stephen martyr from the main altar from the Santa Maria Novella Domenican church of Florence;

•

in 2002 (on l7 February 2002) Máté Millisits talked about the impact of Italian Renaissance villa architecture in Hungary;

•

in 2004 on the relations between Renaissance profane architecture in Florence and the Novecento architecture;

These are the workshops in which Hungarian students also played an active role: •

In 2004, 14-23 February: “Discover the Real Spirit of the activity of Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation”;

•

in 2007, 28 January – 4 February: “Space of the Town – Space of the Mind”;

•

in 2008, 17-24 February: “Florentine Themes in Dictionaries of European Writers”

At the beginning it was a great help for our participation in the activity of the Foundation the recommendation of the Dott.ssa Serena PADOVANI from Galleria Pitti who has praised the person and the activity of Mr Paolo Del Bianco, the President of the Foundation Romualdo Del Bianco.

Already in year 2000 Prof. Mihály ZÁDOR invited me to take part in his workshop in Florence organised by the Foundation Del Bianco. Prof. Zádor was in close friendship with President Paolo Del Bianco.

For us, Hungarians it is a great pleasure that in the centre of the Foundation there is a room dedicated to Prof. Mihály Zádor in the splendid Palazzo Copponi.

In addition to the workshops, the Foundation was great help for us Hungarians in the work of restoration of the frescoes of the castle of Esztergom, as well as exhibitions and conferences presenting the results of the work.

I wish for the following years a good continuation of the magnificent work of the Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation with my best regards.

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LJILJANA SEPIC University of Zagreb “SOUVENIR DE FLORENCE” - MY INVOLVEMENT IN THE FOUNDATION RONALDO DEL BIANCO ACTIVITIES At the end of 2000 I was first contacted by my old friend prof. Milan Prodanovic from University of Novi Sad as the workshop leader, and then officially by the Fondazione itself to join with selected students the international students workshop in Florence. The very mission of the Fondazione greatly appealed to me especially after previous war in Croatia and unresolved issues between our two countries because it presented possibility for young people to meet, to get acquainted and to get to understand each other. But not only students and professors from our two countries but also those coming from three other East European countries behind former Iron curtain! It was only after long persuasion that I was able to convince the Zagreb Faculty of Architecture Dean to let me select the students for our first workshop in Florence. (the word Balkan city in the workshop title proved to represent the greatest obstacle). And so eventually a week before Christmas we arrived to the workshop and joined other groups of students and professors. After touching introductory speech by prof. Prodanovic in which he first appologized for people from his home town Novi Sad being in the first line of attackers on Croatian town Vukovar the workshop proceeded and proved to be very succesful as all the following ones. For students of architecture being in Florence and being able to see and analyze on the spot the buildings they only met before during lectures as well as visiting the famous Florentine museums is beyond words. Several generations of Zagreb Faculty of Architecture students so had the opportunity to take part in the workshop groups formed by students from different countries (universities) enabling them in this way to open their minds to different cultures, creating energy from cultural and mental differences, and forming in this way lifelong friendships.

As to myself the impact of being involved in the Foundation activities proved also to be quite important.The issue was not only in taking part in the prof. Prodanovic workshops titled „Re –inventing East-European cities...“ but also re-inventing former friendships and ties...It also ment forming permanent ties with my Faculty student during preparation for these workshop, the work itself in the workshops but also on trips we took to Siena, Pisa, S. Geminiano etc. Very valuable for myself proved The Experts Round Tables meetings during which we were given opportunity to present our ideas for future Fondazione activities, meet our colleagues from all over the world. I remember especially the Xth Round table held on the Pallazo Vechio premises! I also had opportunity to do some research connected with the subject I introduced to the Faculty of Architecture in Zagreb, that is Industrial Archaelogy( Florence markets , Prato Museum of Textiles etc). I am really sorry that after my retirement I did not have opportunity of any serious involvement in the Fondazione projects.

It is my sincere wish that the Fondazione continues with its remarkable goal of building bridges between different cultures, peoples and traditions and I hope that perhaps I will find the way to participate in a modest way in this noble project.

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TATIANA SERGEYEVA Kharkov National University of Civil Engineering and Architecture

Florence has its charisma for every cultured person. At school my history book disposed a picture of fabulous David statue

by Michele Angelo. Being a student I have read a book “Sufferings and enjoyment” by Waise that was opened with the brilliant description of Florence by a boy named Michele who loved watching that marvelous city from the hill. Later when I looked at Florence from that hill in my real life I had the feeling that I have already seen this beautiful view. But that time I adored Florence from far aside studying books with pictures of Uffizi gallery. I really could not even dream that one day the Rector of our University Professor Nicola Bolotskih would propose me: “What about visiting Florence?” A year before he was invited to Florence by his Armenian and Lvov colleagues and has met very interesting personality Paolo Del Bianco there. After meeting with so bright and creative person as Paolo our rector made “historical decision” concerning our architects collaboration with Foundation, that now is difficult to overestimate.

We selected a group of the best architects of our University and having crossed half a Europe by small bus we arrived to Florence on the 25th of February 2004 for participating in VI International Round Table of Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation’s Experts. Before our arrival we have learnt to our great pity that Paolo Del Bianco was seriously ill. Our Rector wrote him: “Dear friend, we all are very worried over your health. We wish you to overcome this hard situation and all our team hope to meet you safe and sound in Florence. You have kind and generous heart and it should be healthy not only for you but for all people around who loves and respect you”. I remember perfectly well the moment when unexpectedly the news occurred in the air that Paolo Del Bianco in spite of his state would come in Alexander Hotel to greet the participants of the Round table. We could not believe that he can come but he did it. His coming was really impressive: very tall smiling man in a black hat with opera deep voice was shaking hands and found kind words for everybody. His charisma was tremendous and from this very moment we all were captured by his charm that still energizes and inspires us during nearly 10 yeas of sincere friendship.

Since than 331 Ukrainian professors, students, postgraduates, members of government, practical architects, physicians, sociologists, psychologists, journalists, musicians and artists were involved by us to participate in the numerous activities organized by Foundation under the motto: “For peace in the world, among young people of different Countries, through culture. Meeting, getting acquainted, understand each other to develop friendship among people”. 30 workshops, 5 roundtables, 5 best diploma competitions, 3 exhibitions, Yalta festival – all these is not a full list of events that we have participated or developed in close collaboration and with real care of Foundation for these years.

Trying to invest our competence and values into Paolo’s noble idea Kharkov team of experts developed a whole range of projects. One of the best Ukrainian specialists in church architecture Igor Klimov presented unique materials for workshops “Conception of Christian Orthodox Cathedral (idea, meaning, topic and language of symbols and signs”). Together with Luba Rizevceva they organized a workshop “The Ideal Cathedral” where students of different countries developed their ideas within collaborative work – as present day reflection of famous Council of Ferrara-Florence of 1438-1439. Igor’s original ideas for the project “European home” orientated not to the diversities but to commonness gave students an opportunity to unite past and present in the context of different cultures. Vladimir Lopatko who has very rich practical experience in restoration became a leader of the workshops “Conservation and reuse of the architectural heritage for the future” and “Past and present technologies’ synergy in the restoration of East Slavonic folk wooden and stone architecture monuments”. Helena Remezova supervised the workshop «Florentine humanism of Х1У century. Visual arts of Renaissance and its modern understanding”. Professor Katherine Chercasova was a leader of the workshop “Ideal Christian Cathedral”.

Michail Averbakh who is one of the best leaders of students’ best projects presented workshops “Visual communication in architectural environment” dealing with the urgent problem of advertising in historical city center. Together with Oksana Demidiuk he also participated in development a workshop “City as an education polygon». The project “Historical city center for disabled people” was proposed for students’ weekly workshops by Professor Viktor Mironenko and his postgraduate. The group of our experts in innovative educational technologies Natalia Turlakova, Oksana Demidiuk and Dmitriy Berezniakov under supervision of Professor Tatiana Sergeyeva proposed original methodologies dealing with organizing well-balanced “Ideal teams” for efficient international teamwork within students’ workshops and “Evaluation of the workshops efficiency”. Tatiana’s workshops “Self-identification – self-development – self-realization as a synergetic triad of contemporary life”, “Educational Tourism for Architects on the bases of international collaboration scheme”, “Tourism

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as a means of self-identification development”, “European integration without loosing self-identification” brought ideas that corresponded to the new development of the Foundation activities and were manifested in the Motto: “International encounters without competition, respecting individual identities, Discovering the past together, working to build a shared future” promoted in 2006 while opening of the Auditorium al Duomo.

The greatest value the Foundation students workshops have been not only as educative and research events but mainly as social aim achievement. Communication within such beautiful environment as Florence and the charm of this marvelous city itself were the strongest points of the events. The main positive result of the workshops was not purely cognitive but psychological. Working in the atmosphere of friendship and collaboration the students (and even professors) have developed their self-esteem. Their self-identification became more definite and positive. Their motivation for study, interest to their future professional activity and enthusiasm has considerably grown. For such short period of time it was unbelievable.

All these had sustainable results that were proved by the fact that most of the former participants of Florentine students workshops have became Masters, Post Graduators and PhD. At the beginning students were aimed at collaborative work and responsibility as a representative (or even ambassadors) of their culture, country, city and University. As a result they became real Agent of Changes at their own University, city and country.

The Foundation stimulated our development. We grew together with the Foundation. Some of our ideas that were born within students’ workshops transformed into serious research projects. The idea of digitalizing results of measuring practice for developing database of city architectural heritage graphic reconstruction transformed into the project “Rescuing the Hidden European Wooden Churches Heritage” within scheme “Culture 2000” that was realized in collaboration with the Foundation. Workshops devoted to Eco-Humanistic Self-Development and Self-Identification became prerequisites of a European project “Architecture and Sustainable Urban Development Based on Eco-Humanistic Principles & Advanced Technologies without Losing Identity” that has won grant and is successfully realized within TEMPUS scheme in collaboration with Milan Polytechnics (POLIMI).

The Foundation and our University signed an agreement for the development of institutional and cultural relations and of activities of common interest. It is also remarkable that via Foundation that worked in close cooperation with Florentine University, Collegio degli Ingegneri della Toscana and Milan Polytechnics our University signed agreements with architectural faculties and collegio defining the subjects for joint researches both in innovative projects in the field of technology of architectural monuments’ restoration as well as in investigating Italian (and more precisely, Genoese) fortresses of XIV-XV in Crimea on the south of Ukraine in town Kerch, Feodosiya, Sudak, Alushta, Balaklava Inkerman and Simeiz as well as more ancient tailings of tavros strengthening, inhabiting Crimea in X-III BC. Within these agreements we have organized student’s summer practices both in Crimea and Italy.

Being received into the Foundation family we became not only a part of the huge net of relations but we tried to develop this net involving into collaboration other Ukrainian Universities such as Kharkov National University named after Karazin, Kharkov Medical University, Kharkov University of Economics, Kharkov University of Fine Arts, Kharkov Academy of Municipal Economy and Odessa Pedagogical University. Paolo presented young performers from Kharkov Musical University (Conservatory) and Kharkov University of Culture a unique opportunity to try themselves with international audience. Our European partners from France (University Lyon 2 and Rhen University) and Britain (Kings College of Cambridge University) also participated in the Foundation events. We even helped to arrange meeting of Paolo and John Barber for organizing Cambridge chorus concerts in Italy.

We tried to involve into collaboration not only academic but also public organizations such as Union of architects as well as City and Regional Government. As a result Paolo Del Bianco and a delegation from Florence were invited in 2004 to the celebration of the 350 anniversary of Kharkov and in 2005 to the celebration of Victory day by Kharkov Mayor Vladimir Shumilkin and Kharkov Region Governor Arsen Avacov. Paolo was respected as a Florentine ambassador of high culture, humanism and mutual development. The Mayor invited Italian delegation to his office and to the sister cities reception in the City Hall, to the ceremony of awarding Kharkov with the EU Banner, to the President of Ukraine reception in Opera House. Paolo’s interviews were broadcasted by a whole range TV channels and the photographs with extracts from interviews were published in many Ukrainian newspapers. Special exhibition was devoted to the Foundation at Kharkov House of Architects and concerts of talented students - winners of international musical and vocal competitions were organized in Kharkov Musical and Pedagogical Universities. Behind all those official events real friendship strengthened and developed. Paolo has a gift to attract people and after his visits to Ukraine a lot of new friends appeared and have got a chance to visit Florence within the Foundation activities and enjoy masterpieces of this wonderful city. But the greatest masterpiece of Florence is Paolo himself with his open mind, generous heart and plentiful source of inspiration.

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After visits to Kharkov Paolo invited our whole team to his summer residence in Forte De Marmi where we celebrated his Anniversary in the circle of his charming Family and Friends. It is remarkable that wonderful people are attracted by the magnetic force of Paolo Del Bianco human nature. Thanks to Paolo we have learnt Maurizio Bossi who was Responsabile del Centro Romantico Gabinetto Scientifico Lettterario G.P. Vieusseux and his charming wife and historian Aurora Savelli; Emma Mandelli who is for us a beautiful symbol of Florentine university architects, Gennaro Tampone who was the Director of Collegio degli Ingegneri della Toscana. And of course Simone Giometti to whom we are extremely grateful for his friendship and to whom we are very much obliged for his help, understanding and patience. It was unforgettable hours spent together full of wonderful communication, piano music, singing, happiness and joy.

One more fascinating page of our collaboration history is connected with Crimea. We involved into Foundation activity representative of Crimean Government Alla Lazareva and Natalia Girenko who occupied a position of the Minister responsible for the Historic and Cultural Heritage of Crimea. Paolo created brilliant idea to organize the Foundation Regional Festivals. And we realized it in Yalta – the pearl of Crimea. More than 100 Ukrainian students, post graduates, professors and practitioners as well as guests from Italy, England, France and Poland took part in the events. The planner meeting was organized in the famous White Hall of Levadia Palace. Local TV and mass media broadly covered the event.

Two international conferences “Sustainable regional development on the bases on synergetic triad university – power – business” and “University for the renaissance and development of cultural national heritage (architectural archeology and restoration)”; two students workshops “Cultural heritage and self-identification” and “The culture of Italy within architectural heritage of Crimea»; Degree & Profession Competition (30 projects) in the fields of Education and Science, History and Archeology, Architecture, Civil Engineering, Urban Planning, Conservation & Restoration, Design & Arts, Sustainable development (economy, ecology, sociology), Information Technologies as well as Degree & Profession Exhibition were organized within Festival program. Festival guests visited monuments of historical and architectural heritage of Crimea: Livadia Historical & Architectural Complex, Vorontsovskiy Palace and Park; Sebastopol, Hersones, Balaklava, Genoa Fortresses of Crimea (Sudak), Nature Reserve Ai-Petri/Uchan-Su, Castle “Lastochkino Gnezdo” and Nikitski Botanic Garden. A selection of 32 articles presented by Ukrainian and European scientist and students was published. 37 works were presented at the RDBF site. 4 Round tables were devoted to the development of concrete projects within international collaboration and 5 protocols of intentions with Universities of Italy, Britain and France were signed.

If not Paolo’s idea we would have never known that it is possible to organize all these events with sustainable results as our life proved later.

Ukraine is now actively integrating into European environment and we are waiting with hope for the agreement concerning the associated membership of Ukraine that is expected to be signed this November. We are proud that we have invested into this historic moment by making first steps along the road that the Foundation and Paolo Del Bianco opened for us nearly ten years ago. Peoples diplomacy and good will sometimes do even more than official power. Students who visited the Foundation became real Agents of positive changes in Ukraine.

This is an abstract from one of the letters that we have written to Paolo many years ago after his visit to Ukraine but every line in it is still a truth: “All our team is still under impression of your visit. We are very enthusiastic as to the future. We think with very warm feeling of you and Giovanna. Francesco was very right speaking about people’s eyes as the reflection of their soul. Your eyes are deep in our hearts. Your family charmed us. Your noble gentlehood, patience and kindness give an excellent example for all of us. You are genius giving people opportunity to learn each other under the situation of real direct communication. This is the best and the most efficient diplomacy. We understand perfectly well that dealing with the countries of the former communist orientation demands great courage and will. We are so grateful for your bravery and kindheartedness. Thank you very much for accepting our invitation and having the courage to visit our country with the whole family after very serious health problem. We are proud to be your friends. It is a great honor for us and we shall try to do our best in realizing all your brilliant ideas”.

With sincere love and wishing success Tatiana Sergeyeva and all Kharkov team

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JOSE DANILO A. SILVESTRE University of the Philippines Diliman “FIRENZE BECKONS” The attraction of Firenze is both personal and professional, it is emotional yet profoundly cerebral. As an architect, urban planner and academician, my first introduction to the Renaissance in both spirit and thought, was as a basic element of architectural history. The traditions of a comprehensive education in art and architecture at the University of the Philippines in the mid-1970s, called for a pervasive understanding of the whole gamut of Western architecture, from the pre-Classical, Classical, Medieval, Renaissance to the Modern era.

To a large extent these traditions, and the philosophical frameworks which they embodied, were both inspiration and beacon. The emergent Post-modernist tendencies had only started their evolution from the then-prevalent Modernist paradigm. Filipino Architecture in its self-conscious quest for identity and definition, both acknowledged it’s multi-valenced roots as well as it’s idiosyncratic origins. Still, the historical “styles” were always a rich source.

Robert Venturi’s seminal discourse, “Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture”, so misunderstood in it’s allegorical contexts, provided to me a more incisive and analytically creative challenge to rediscovering the Renaissance.

Later, in 1990 to1995, a then young professor at the College of Architecture of the University of the Philippines, some of the first courses assigned to me by choice and attraction, were the History of Architecture, and Architectural Theory, both fecund and stimulating. Much of the pedagogical content of these courses found manifestation in the largely theoretical studies of the Architecture of the Renaissance. I befriended Filippo Brunelleschi, Michelangelo and the great artists of Renaissance Italy vicariously and in my imagination. They were my mentors in book and plan, in text and photograph. And I, a Filipino separated by both distance and time, had to find satisfaction in this. The Duomo, the Ponte Vecchio, the Palazzos Pitti, Strozzi, Riccardi, the Ospidagle di Innocenti, and the moving interior space of the Biblioteca Laurenziana beckoned and offered the difficult task of spatial comprehension from the limited communication of line, texture and shade.

In 2007, at almost the same time that I was appointed Dean of the College of Architecture, of the University of the Philippines Diliman, I received my first invitation from the Fondazione Romualdo del Bianco to participate in the Experts Roundtable Discussion. This initial contact was referred by Prof. Zhang Min, of Tsinghua University in Beijing, a colleague and friend in the Inter-University Seminar on Asian Megacities (IUSAM) of which we had both been affiliated with for some years. My interest and desire to finally visit Firenze would have to wait however until February 2010, on the last year of my term as Dean. It was then that I was finally able to participate in the Experts Roundtable and to personally meet Mr. Paolo del Bianco, President of the Fondazione Romualdo del Bianco and Mr. Simone Giometti, Secretary-General. The five days that I spent on that first visit to the Birthplace of the Renaissance, were much too short, if only to meet with new friends and colleagues, as well as other key officials and staff of the Fondazione. Needless to say, the initial visit to all the buildings which I had experienced only from books, would scarcely suffice, and only served to advance my wish to return. The academic potentials that emerged from the Experts Roundtable discussions, further opened rich and diverse opportunities, as co-participants and colleagues from Azerbaijan, Georgia, Poland, Russia and at least one old friend from Japan, Prof. Riichi Miyake presented their proposals for conferences, workshops and other activities.

Upon my return to the Philippines, I found myself preoccupied with a notion to propose a project for collaboration with the Fondazione. This was heightened by the chance encounter I had had with some countrymen, longtime Filipino residents of Firenze whom I was happy to learn had made Firenze their home and integrated well into its culture and social structure.

Still, I noticed that there remained much that was perhaps hidden, of the rich, warm andh deeply creative culture of the Philippines. This was moreso of the commonalities that Italy and my country shared.

This initial notion, led to a series of exploratory meetings with key colleagues at the University of the Philippines, among them former Director Ruben Defeo of the Office for Initiatives in Culture and the Arts (OICA); former Dean Florentina

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Colayco, of the College of Fine Arts; former Dean Ramon Acoymo of the College of Music, a celebrated Tenor. The concept that emerged was one that focused on exploring and rediscovering the shared cultural ties between the Philippines and Italy, a relationship that traced cultural and artistic influences over centuries, and increasingly direct ties both politically, economically and socially in the 20th Century. The idea developed to initiate an inter-disciplinary undertaking that would encompass the fields of Architecture, the Fine Arts, Music and Dance, with an emphasis on cultural identity and shared traditions and artistic manifestations between the Philippines and Italy. The early discussions leading to this project, occurred within the first semester of our academic year 2010-2011 from the months of June and leading up to its fruition in October of 2010.

Once the initial concept was in place, it became necessary to contact the Fondazione Romualdo del Bianco, to find out whether this was at all possible within the context and coverage of the mandate of the Fondazione. The warm reception of the idea, by President Paolo del Bianco, energized the project and advanced the interest of our initial group at the University of the Philippines. We then sought the support of the Juan C. Angara Foundation through the intercession of Senator and former President of the University of the Philippines, Edgardo J. Angara, and his friend and associate Atty. Avelino V. Cruz, both renowned patrons of Filipino Art and culture. The key support from Senator Angara and Atty. Cruz, led to another crucial element in the support structure for what was rapidly becoming an exciting, yet daunting undertaking. A crucial meeting with Ms. Nedy Tantoco, and officers of the Philippine Italian Association in Manila, provided the critical funding needed to proceed with the detailed planning of the endeavor. Additional support was generously provided by the UP College of Architecture Alumni Foundation Inc., DMCI Land, Boysen Paints and Bticino Legrand. Inspite of the relatively abbreviated timeframe, it was mutually agreed that the “Philippines-Italy: Cultural Nexus” project would proceed in October 2010. The event would be held in Firenze, Italy at the Auditorium al Duomo, through the auspices of the Fondazione Romualdo del Bianco, and our group from the University of the Philippines Diliman. The 3-day event would comprise an Exhibit of Contemporary Filipino Art, a Musical Concert, a Dance Concert and an Academic Conference focusing on cultural intersections in Architecture/Urban Design, Fine Arts/Industrial Design and Music, with participation of academicians from the University of Florence and the University of the Philippines.

A total of over seventy participants from the Philippines came to Firenze from 11 to 20 October 2010. These included some twenty-five undergraduate students of the College of Architecture; some fifteen faculty members from the Colleges of Architecture, Fine Arts and Music; some twenty alumni and participating artists; and twelve student dance performers of the multi-awarded UP Varsity Pep Squad. The Italian Embassy in Manila, led by then Italian Ambassador to the Philippines, His Excellency Luca Fornari, extended their gracious assistance in expediting the required travel documents of the participants. Again, the official invitation from the Fondazione Romualdo del Bianco was also instrumental in this. Aside from the academic participants, the Office of the Mayor of Quezon City, sent two representatives, Councilors Roderick Paulate and Alfred Vargas, to initiate discussions leading to a Twin City relationship between Firenze and Quezon City. This was undertaken through the efforts of Ms. Divinia Capalad, Filipina member of the Firenze City Council, and the Office of the Honorary Counsul Dott. Fabio Fanfani.

The “Philippines-Italy: Cultural Nexus” was further enrichened by the extraordinary assistance extended by the Fondazione Romualdo del Bianco in arranging key meetings with the University of Florence, the Accademia di Bella Arti di Firenze and other importance offices. For our group, and most especially our students in architecture and fine arts, visits to the Uffizi Gallery, the Palazzo Pitti, the Casa di Dante, the Biblioteca Laurenziana, the Corridoio Vasariano, Santa Croce and the invaluable collection of the art treasures of Firenze. To many of our students, their participation was perhaps one of the most valuable experiences that they will long treasure. I am sure that it had a profound impact on both their personal and professional lives. All most all of them are now graduated, and are practicing architects. They all look back with fondness to those days in October of 2010 when they visited glorious Firenze for the first time.

It is with a deep sense of gratitude, that I consider the Fondazione Romualdo del Bianco, and the persons who continue to further its goals of enhancing international, cultural and academic exchange. The exciting list of future activities and projects aimed at strengthening and forging of relationships, not only institutional in nature but all the more importantly, personal is worthy of acclaim and support.

Since 2010, I have returned to the University of the Philippines, and am now serving as Director for the Office for Initiatives in Culture and the Arts (OICA), aside from my continuing teaching of courses in Architectural Design, and Urban Design.

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My immediate predecessor, former OICA Director and retired Professor of Art Studies, Ruben D.F. Defeo continues to handle subjects, and in like manner is continuously beseiged by students urging us to organize another return to Firenze.

This is a pedagogical intervention that goes much further than the apparent sight-seeing, and tourism. It lies at the core of the “Life Beyond Tourism� paradigm promoted by the Fondazione in its efforts.

I look forward, with both a sense of immediacy and excitement to future collaborations with my friends at the Fondazione Romualdo del Bianco. In 2014, I look forward to again visiting Firenze and hope that succeding collaborations are neither few nor far between.

In the years remaining to me as an educator, I cannot but consider the importance of what these humble endeavors attain.

This is as important a responsibility to my students as the more innocuous curricular undertakings we implement. I for one, will never tire of these continuing efforts toward renewal and intellectual growth. Visits, such as the one we organized in 2010, in their explorations and intellectual excursions, are after all, self-defining. And self-definition is NOT only the concern of youth. It is a universal constant, a renaissance of the self. Ultimately, it is these that form the matrix of human experiences, most exquisitely rendering that which is both unique yet common to all of us. Firenze continues to beckon, and for that I am thankful.

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ANNA SIWIK AGH University of Science and Technology THE FIFTEENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ROMUALDO DEL BIANCO LIFE BEYOND TOURISM FOUNDATION Thanks to the boom in tourism in the last decades, never before in the history of humanity have the inhabitants of this planet travelled so much, or have been so vastly engaged in the discovery of other cultures. Tourism, which brings individuals and communities into contact, has a crucial role to play in the process of facilitating the dialogue between different cultures.

All tourism activities have both positive and negative impact on the natural, cultural and socio-economic environment. Mass tourism is hardly sustainable: the overcrowding, the misuse of natural resources, the construction of new buildings and infrastructure, alongside other activities associated with tourism produce severe impact on the environment. This unfavorable impact may be not only of physical, but also of cultural nature.

But tourism can also have positive effects on our cultural and natural heritage, on creativity and cultural diversity as well as on the intercultural dialogue. The intercultural dialogue can constitute a strategic instrument for peace, stability and conflict prevention. It constitutes the best guarantee of a more peaceful, just and sustainable world.

Divided by the borders for decades, Europe needs a dialogue. Today’s world needs a dialogue, especially a dialogue between different civilizations, since many conflicts are due to misunderstanding and prejudices widespread among societies.

Motto of the Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation brilliantly corresponds to this goal: For peace in the world, among young people of different countries, through culture. Meeting, getting acquainted, understanding each other to develop friendship among people.

This idea is close to my heart. I remember the time of divided Europe. Living in a country where freedom of travel was significantly restricted, we had no opportunity to meet different kinds of people, to taste different types of food or to participate in the process of ideas exchange with people representing different points of view. Now Europe is open. The Schengen area is a space without internal borders. The free movement area in Europe is expanding. That is great.

As we read in the Foundation’s document: The Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation ‘targets youth because we believe young people are most open to meeting each other and learning about the different traditions and cultures of their peers. The Foundation also believes young people have the strongest desire to learn about the history and the art of different cultures. This is why students from our network of universities and academic institutions play such an important role in the international meetings the Foundation holds in Florence each year’.

As the Vice Rector for Students Affairs I can only express my sincere thanks for this declaration. The international exchange program is a priority for my university (AGH – Univeristy of Sciene and Technology). The university exchange program has been designed to build bridges of international understanding among people of different religions, beliefs and cultures.

Thanks to the Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation we can intensify this effort. I am really grateful for the invitation by Dr. Paolo Del Bianco to the Festival of Greetings from the Landes in December 2012. I was impressed by the warm and friendly atmosphere of the meeting, it was indeed a perfect example of intercultural dialogue. On the occasion of the Festival I made my first personal contact with Dr. Paolo Del Bianco. From the very start we have shared a common understanding of the Foundation mission and appreciated the prospects of our cooperation. We have signed Memorandum of Understanding under the Life Beyond Tourism Ethos between the Romualdo Del Bianco-Life Beyond Tourism Foundation and the AGH-University of Science and Technology.

It is worth mentioning that the cooperation between the Foundation and the AGH – UST was launched in 2004. Many AGH students took part in the Fourth Workshops on Sustainable Development in Italy under the tutorship of our Prof. Jan W. Dobrowolski as a result of his cooperation with the Del Bianco Foundation. The President of the Foundation introduced

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our students to the main principles of the Foundation mission which is focused on the intercultural dialogue and peaceful activity by stimulating friendly cooperation among students representing different nations.

The interdisciplinary cooperation of students within the international teams resulted in the development of a small project related to actual environmental problems specifically focused on the improvement of the environment quality and management of green areas in Florence.

The students of the AGH-UST took active part in long-term comparative monitoring of the exposition of old architecture to the air pollution in twin cities: Krakow and Florence. Within the joint Workshops organized by the Del Bianco Foundation the first case study in this field was carried out in Italy. The results of this case study were presented by the members of the Team of Environmental Protection (NGO) at the annual session of the student scientific research teams.

The student research team took part in monitoring the impact of the traffic pollution also in the area of the Museum located in the former Auschwitz Nazi Camp. Prof. Dobrowolski was a scientific leader of the Del Bianco Foundation Workshop on Sustainable Development-Sound-Tourism-Education in Florence in February 2010.

The output of International Conferences on Sustainable Development at the AGH-UST in the period from 1989 to 2008 as well as the UNESCO Decade of Education for Sustainable Development and the Workshop on Sustainable Development of Historical Cities in Florence constituted valuable sources of information for students participating in the joint Workshop in this field.

Prof. Dobrowolski presented information on the results of long-term cooperation with the Del Bianco Foundation during the International Conferences on Sustainable Development [including the 14th Conference in this field which took place in Krakow in September 2012] as well as at the Open University of AGH-UST, and also at the University of the Third Age at the Cracow University of Technology in 2013.

The idea of qualified tourism in accordance with the Del Bianco Foundation was further developed by Prof. Dobrowolski in relation to the region of the Pieniny National Park. The issue was discussed at the Interuniversity Workshops in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

Fifteen years in the life of a foundation might seem to be a short period of time, but in the case of the Del Bianco Foundation it has been an event-filled decade-and-a-half. Growing from nothing – the Foundation is now known around the world for offering a new concept of cultural heritage as an instrument of mutual understanding among different cultures.

The Foundation has been shaped by the incredible contribution of its President, Dr. Paolo Del Bianco. He is ‘a good spirit” of the Foundation. I can imagine how many wonderful things and good deeds have been done during all those years. I am convinced that at the root of that success lie his personal qualities: … the generosity of his spirit and the warmth of his heart.

I am sure that this anniversary is just the first milestone in the years of work ahead for the Foundation.

It is my pleasure on behalf of the AGH- UST to congratulate you, Paolo on the 15th anniversary of your Foundation. We are extremely grateful for your support. I can ensure you that our University will continue to be your reliable partner.

Wishing you - and all of you who are working to further the Foundation’s vision and to make the world a better place - happiness, success and prosperity. Please, accept once again my warm congratulations.

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PIOTR STACHURSKI Gliwice Academy of Entrepreneurship

It was in Cracow almost exactly 13 years ago - 24th October 2000 - the second day of the Final Conference of the International Conference on Conservation “Kraków 2000” (Cultural Heritage as Foundation of Civilization Development). I presented a paper entitled “Creation of Architecture as a Perceptive Multi-Level (Based on the Analyses of Selected Examples of Medieval Religious Architecture)” in the session of Group A - New Philosophy of Heritage Protection. Session of this group took place in the International Cultural Centre (Rynek Gł.

25). Before my presentation, during a coffee break Dr. Marta Urban´ska - the Scientific Secretary of the Group - introduced me to President Paolo Del Bianco, who was the chairman of the afternoon session. We exchanged visiting cards. After two weeks I received e-mail from the Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation, asking me if I accept entering my personal data into the Foundation database. After four weeks I received an invitation to the 3rd International Round Table (19th - 26th February 2001). During the first day I met probably all the participants of this event.

It’s very difficult to describe in few words the influence of the Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation on my personal and professional life. Especially in my professional life, but not only, it’s something that helped me to form my identity. I will try to describe this question as a few the most important experiences.

1. Experience of an international conference, international workshop, a kind of international brainstorm focused on selected problem. I mean first of all the International Project: A New Urban Identity, the Convent of San Domenico in San Gimignano (2001-2002) - the first and probably the most important activity of the Foundation I take part in (with Arch. Monika We¸glorz as my assistant) 2. Experience of the International Student Weekly Workshops - a fantastic idea of education based on work in international teams, connected with personal integration. I took part in four workshops as a tutor of a team representing the Silesian University of Technology in Gliwice: 2004 - Christian Monuments of Architecture (Catholic and Orthodox Temples). The Ideal Cathedral (project leaders: Prof. Igor Klimov /Kharkov/ and Prof. Elena Lapshina /Penza/), 2006 - Tower in the City (project leader: Prof. Elena Lapshina /Penza/), 2007 - Visual Communication in Architectural Environment: the Advertising in the Historical City Centers (project leader: Prof. Mikhailo Averbach /Kharkov/), 2008 - The City and the Mask Show (project leader: Prof. Amir Sarymsakov /Bishkek/). Finally, in 2010 I was the leader of the workshop: Architectural Signs of Town’s Identity - 4 teams participating: Gliwice, Kharkov (tutor: Prof. Volodymyr Lopatko), Penza (tutor: Prof. Elena Lapshina), Stambul (tutor: Prof. Kerem Ozel).

3. Experience of being a tutor of a diploma awarded by prestigious prize. In 2009 my diploma student Arch. Paweł Spisak was awarded the medal of the President of the Italian Republic, Prof. Giorgio Napolitano for the best diploma on Conservation and Restoration in the Degree and Profession competition ("Podium Grassum"- Local Centre of Culture in Grasse / France, Alpes-Maritimes/;First Proposal of Revitalization of the Rouachier Quarter).

4. Experience of Florence. Thanks to the Foundation I had an unusual opportunity to study architecture and art of Florence in situ, and to discover every time something new. It was really a life (study, research) beyond of commercial tourism, beyond of overcrowded spaces, permanent rush, and one moment sightseeing.

5. Experience of international cooperation initiated in Florence. The impact of the Foundation is not limited to Florence and Tuscany. Many times Florence was only a starting point of very important international cooperation. I will mention only 3 geographical directions (I think the most important).

First of all I would like to commemorate Prof. Bohumil Fanta (Prague). I met him the first time during the Round Table in 2001. In the same year (in May) he took part in the conference “Srebrne Miasta (Silver Towns) 2001” in Tarnowskie Góry (Prof. Pavel Gregor and Prof. Eva Kral´ova from Bratislava also took part in it). Prof. Fanta and his wife Prof. Eva Fantova were frequent guests of summer student’s workshops in Kutná Hora, which I organized almost every year for students of the Faculty of Architecture of the Silesian University of Technology in Gliwice. In 2006 and 2007 Prof. Fanta invited me as a lecturer to the Postgraduate Study on Conservation organized in Tel by the Faculty of Architecture of the Czech Technical

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University in Prague.

In 2008 Prof. Elena Lapshina invited me to Penza to give a lecture at the Penza State University of Architecture and Construction, as a part of 5th Vladimir Tatlin International Scientific Conference. I was a very interesting meeting with Russia, including giant Moscow (where I met Prof. Nicolai Gorsky Chernyshev), Penza - a local administrative centre, and also Russian countryside.

Last but not least - Kharkov, Ukraine. I’ve never been in Kharkov (in 2009 I took part in the conference organized by the Kharkov State University of Architecture and Construction in Yalta) but it’s impossible to mention in such a short text all the professors from this city, I cooperated with. In 2008 and 2011 groups of students and professors from Kharkov visited Gliwice, and then we continued together student’s workshops in Kutná Hora and in Prague. During the workshop in 2011 I met Prof. Fanta last time. It is difficult to come to terms that it was decisively the last time.

In speech summarizing one of the Round Tables of Experts President Paolo Del Bianco said to the participants: “You are the Foundation”. As an “overall judgment” I could say - I feel a part of the Foundation, and the Foundation has been very important in my both professional and personal life.

1st October I started to work at the Gliwice Academy of Entrepreneurship (Gliwicka Wyz˙sza Szkoła Przedsie¸biorczos´ci), at the Faculty of Design (Wydział Sztuk Projektowych). We have started with the 1st Degree Study on Architecture. It’s something completely new, something to be built from the beginning. In March we would like to start with Postgraduate Study on Conservation. As soon as possible I would like to lead to the signing of the Agreement of Cooperation between our Academy and the Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation. Until the nearest Round Table I would like to present a proposal of international research - conferences, workshops... (I just think of the organizational form) - entitled “Alternative Florence”.

The idea is based on the philosophy of Life Beyond Tourism. The basic question of this activity is: how to create in the city centre (inside the Arnolfo di Cambio city wall or in its immediate surroundings) new focusing points for tourist movement, alternative for extremely overcrowded places.

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HOVHANNES TOKMAJYAN Yerevan State University of Architecture and Construction National University of Architectur and Construction,Yerevan

Congratulations to the Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation apropos of the 15th anniversary of its establishment. Therefore by the decision of the Academic Council of the Yerevan State University of Architecture and Construction we reward the “Romualdo Del Bianco” Foundation with a gilded medal for the significant contribution to science and art.

Congratulations to the entire staff and the management of the Foundation the President Mr. Paolo Del Bianco, a loyal friend of ours and the General Secretary Mr. Simone Giometti on this occasion, who are connected with warm and intimate friendship ties with the faculty members and students of the Yerevan State University of Architecture and Construction.

Congratulations to the members of the Foundation with so important and well-deserved reward ''Columbos – Art, Science, and Entrepreneurship''.

The close cooperation between the Yerevan State University of Architecture and Construction and Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation began at the end of the1990s. In 2002 the 53 university delegations throughout the world, including the Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation delegation participated in the University's 80th anniversary celebrations.

In this regard our first meeting in the Municipality ''hall of 500'' in Florence in 2013 is memorable. This was our first meeting in Florence, where thanks to the efforts of Yerevan State University of Architecture and Construction and Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation the doors of Florence are open for the Universities of Commonwealth of Independent States countries (Former Soviet Union). Since that notable day the Armenia and the CIS Universities faculty members and students saw in reality the enduring masterpieces of Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and many renowned artists, architects. The Romualdo Del Bianco foundation, pursuing its philosophy, gave an opportunity to enjoy the chefs d'oeuvres of the world art - the Michelangelo’s genius sculpture "David", the Leonardo da Vinci's ''Annunciation'', ''Adoration of the Magi'', the Botichelli's ''Spring'' and many other wonderful works in the Uffizi Gallery, the Academy Gallery, and elsewhere, hereby once again proving the adopted philosophy that the culture is the only possible way to build a bridge of friendship between people.

Consequently, there is a mutual discernment of cultures; parallel to the perception and dissemination of Italian culture and art, we reveal and emphasize our national values, making it visible for the international community by means of the close cooperation of Italian universities and schools. Thereby this process allows us to enrich our national architectural heritage, to import the Italian culture into Armenian reality.

Every time we gain an indelible impression from the workshops organized by the Foundation, where various universities students from different parts of the world are present. The workshops are accompanied by various interesting activities. There are no winners or losers, all the participants at the end of each work acquire high professionalism, get spiritual satisfaction, which they use throughout their life.

It is a great honor for us that the delegations of the Yerevan State University of Architecture and Construction have participated in the most important events of the Foundation history: the great opening of ''Auditorio al Duomo'' in 2006, ''Palazzo Coppini'', international conferences and research center's opening in 2013, one of the halls of which was named after the YSUAC founding rector Mr. Arest Beglaryan. And now our delegation is present here apropos of the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the Foundation, which again proves our years of close friendship.

We've all been witnessing our close cooperation with Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation, the vivid proof of which are the roundtable sessions, student and faculty exchange programmes, ''Best Diploma Project'' review-competitions, exhibitions, festivals in the past 10 years, which is an important stimulus for dissemination of cultural heritage, its estimation and preservation. The symbol of lasting friendship between Romulado Del Bianco Foundation and our University is the bust of Leonardo Da Vinci donated by the Fund to our University, which is in the square opposite our University. At the opening ceremony of the Leonardo Da Vinci’s bust many honorable guests, representatives of state authorities, the president of the Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation Mr. Paolo Del Bianco and the general secretary Mr. Simone Jiomettin were present.

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With great appreciation should be noted, that the organization of the festival ''Armenian Cultural Days in Florence'' became a reality thanks to the close collaboration of the Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation, the Yerevan State University of Architecture and Construction and Delta Culture association.

Within the scope of the 90th anniversary celebrations of our University in October, 2012 during the ''Armenian Cultural Days in Florence'', Armenian architecture from the ancient times to our days was presented. The exhibitions of the history of Armenian architecture, modern art, the works of the faculty members of the Yerevan State University of Architecture and Construction and ''The Best Architectural Diploma Project'' generated a great interest not only among the specialists but also among a wider range of public. Within the framework of the festival, folk music concerts, round tables, conferences and theatrical performance were held.

We are confident that the friendly cooperation between the Yerevan State University of Architecture and Construction and the Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation will be long-lasting, will bring us further successful results and will enrich the two friendly countries cultures with new, universal values.

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JUNKO TSUJI Kyokane Corporation Ltd. FOR THE FIFTEENTH ANNIVERSARY OF ROMUALDO DEL BIANCO FOUNDATION It is an extraordinary and privileged honor to have an opportunity to personally celebrate Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation’ s fifteenth anniversary. Since the very beginning of its establishment, the Foundation has been making positive interventions in tying people to people, training youngsters of all over the world with cultural heritage as their interface. The Foundation never seizes to pursue its original intent of enhancing intercultural dialogue and understanding among people’s diverse cultural backgrounds through the act of conservation of historic, cultural and artistic heritage, underlining the belief that eventually their intent will make a positive contribution to the peace in the world. These efforts should be broadly recognized and praised on this occasion.

Being the peace-loving people, we cherish our Japanese cultural tradition while respecting others’ in their own way. The true heart of Romualdo del Bianco Foundation is what we aim for and how the Foundation has been making progress in last 15 years is the example that we would like to follow.

What was especially remarkable in 2013, we had an extraordinary gift of honor from the Foundation. One of the distinguished meeting rooms in Palazzo Coppini was named after the late Arimitsu Tsuji, our last president and my late husband.

It is something more than we deserve, but we are truly thankful to Paolo, a heartwarming Chairman of the Foundation, for manifesting the strong ties between us in this way. It is an additional honor, if I could add, for me that my daughter Hoshino makes her contribution as an Expert Member of the Foundation.

19 years ago in 1995, Arimitsu Tsuji, in his life, as a member of Rakuhoku Region Kyoto Rotary Club, became involved in conservation of three of Jacopo Bassano’s works owned by the Uffizi, as one of the 40th anniversary collaboration efforts of the becoming sister cities Florence and Kyoto. Through this project, Arimitsu was first befriended with Paolo who was then in charge of foreign affairs of the Florence East Rotary Club. At the same time, our third daughter Hoshino, who was then a Rotary act charter expert-knowledge development member, began her association with the Foundation and its philosophy.

The bridge of trust we built between the Del Bianco and Tsuji families had never failed to become stronger ever since. In hindsight, when they first met was the time of two hospitality cultures nourished in Florence and Kyoto met and merged together. Even though the traditions they carry are completely different, it may not have been too difficult for them to naturally shook their hands and immediately began working together side by side looking in the same direction for peace making.

Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation’s main present activities under the flagship of “Life Beyond Tourism” literally connect and bond people to people with diverse cultural backgrounds in innumerable places all over the world. Through the conservation and enhancement activities, we see that connections made by people fuse their cultures and regional traditions.

We also believe this is how knowledge, understanding and innovation can take place and be developed. Even in the small island country of Japan the spirit of “Life Beyond Tourism” will spread through its five elements of philosophy: encounter, communication, knowledge, conservation and economic development. We wish to let the Japanese youngsters soar in the wider world under this philosophy of enhancing intercultural respect and mutual understanding.

Again wishing tradition and respect of heritage continue to build solidarity, so that people and their wish of protecting their rights and respecting others keep being strong. Congratulations for commemorating the fifteenth anniversary of Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation.

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JIR˘Í VANÍCˇEK Silesian University in Opava

My first encounter with the Paolo Del Bianco Foundation (RDBF) was purely accidental. In 2001, I wanted to arrange for my students - at that time I taught at the South-Bohemia University – the participation in an international workshop for tourism students. I think that I participated in this workshop three times and out of that I was involved in the preparation of the workshop programme twice. In 2005 I transferred to the College of Polytechnics of Jihlava as the sponsor of the tourism study course and our cooperation with the RDBF continued. I participated in the workshop three or four times. I do not remember the exact number since I also participated at other events organized by PBF, for example the Round Table of RDBF. I am very honoured that I could become one of the signatories of the declaration “Life Beyond Tourism”.

The cooperation with the foundation has been extremely useful in both my professional as well as personal life. First of all I fell in love with Florence, one of the most beautiful towns in the world and one of the world cultural centres. I have met many friends there. First and foremost Paulo del Bianco whom I hopefully can consider a friend of mine. And not only himself, but also members of his family. I have also met Romana Przybyszewska Gudelis from Bydgoszcz, Poland and also other teachers from this University of Economics in Bydgoszcz, such as Ass.Prof. Agnieszka Kowalkowska and Ass. Prof.Ewa Saks-Mucha. And we launched the cooperation between our schools which has lasted till now. I have lectured in Bydgoszcz several times as a visiting professor. Two years ago I moved over to another university - the Silesian University in Opava - where I currently work as the sponsor of the spa and tourism study course. Unfortunately, I have not succeeded yet in persuading the school management that the cooperation with the RDBF would be advantageous for our students.

I would hereby like to thank Paulo del Bianco for his effort in creating links among students and teachers from many universities in Europe and outside Europe and I would like to wish RDBF lots of success in their praiseworthy work in the coming years.

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EUPHYIM VYSHKIN Samara State University of Architecture and Construction THE ROMUALDO DEL BIANCO FOUNDATION: A BEACON IN THE SEA OF CULTURAL CONTRADICTIONS It's no secret that in today's world priority is increasingly being given to commercial, ideological or political considerations, often in clear contradiction of aesthetic and humanitarian values and ideals. A beacon is needed, giving hope that a sustainable and balanced approach can be navigated through the tempestuous sea of ideas about the direction of modern culture. For many thinking people (and, significantly, for the creative young generation) the outreach and educational activity of the Romualdo del Bianco Foundation is just such a 'beacon'. The Foundation not only invests a great deal in the conservation, propagation and dissemination of the cultural heritage of Florence, but is also highly active in the development and systematisation of cultural activity on a global scale. In this way, the Foundation demonstrates its capacity to appreciate any national culture, in the spirit of global multiculturalism, thereby contributing to mutual understanding and cooperation.

For countries currently undergoing radical transformation, assistance in the organisation of the cultural realm is sorely needed. In the countries of Eastern Europe, for example, the relatively recent process of regaining sovereignty has stimulated both the development of national culture, free from ideological programme, and the rebirth of traditional values and traditions.

Russia is a case in point. Increased information exchange about new research and approaches in the West and East, combined with contemporary ideological contradictions on the one hand, and a renaissance of interest in traditional national art and Russian philosophical aesthetics on the other, are influencing the development of cultural space.

Well-established traditions of Westernism and Slavophilism, having long been in the dialectical balance, now find their ultimate expression in the form of war with each other. On the one hand, to stand to the side of progress in the mutual enrichment of cultures is impossible; on the other, multiculturalism is increasingly being anathematised, in an attempt to resist 'surrendering' national cultural traditions to the general treasury of world heritage, and rather to reveal it in contrast, thus betraying imperialist pretensions of exclusivity. The Foundation espouses a doctrine of cultural universality which allows for the preservation of national-historical identities, taking some of the heat out of this intense debate. For us, as representatives of architectural education, the interest in built heritage shown by the Foundation is of particular significance.

It's an open secret that passionate discourse on the theory and philosophy of culture has been relegated to the background, while practice is dominated by naked mercantile banditry. A passing acquaintance with contemporary urban planning experience in provincial cities, such as my own beloved Samara, is sufficient to demonstrate this. The historic core of this Russian city is being disfigured beyond recognition by illiterate contemporary architectural interventions and barbaric demolition of mature buildings. Arson and other criminal 'solutions' have become a mere commonplace, as the unscrupulous pick at the carcass of this centuries-old architectural ensemble, in greedy search of the most succulent urban morsels.

Degradation at an ethical and aesthetic level within those strata upon which the fate of the city depends has played a significant role in creating and aggravating the current situation. In this respect, architectural education is of course highly significant; a nonchalent attitude formed here towards heritage and its unique identity, combined with the rampant pursuit of convenience, leads to distortion and impaired perception in the realm of aesthetic decisions, which can only be to the detriment of the historic environment. All this is reflected in the deformation of the face of historic cities, where at alarming speed the traditional and original - the very genius loci – is perishing, and in its place monsters rise up, disfiguring the city, without a hope of ever achieving organic harmony with its cultural heritage.

The plight of the contemporary provincial cities of Russia reminds me of the history of my old stamp album. In my childhood a classmate gave me a pre-revolution stamp album, with stamps inside. Stamps in circulation at the time when the album was produced were relatively few, and I had significantly more in my own collection, and so it occurred to me that it would be more sensible and attractive to cut out the stamps from the old album, gather my newer stamps and systematise them, either by a chronological, geographic or thematic principle, and put them all in one new album. Now, when I look

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through the old album, with my clumsy excisions, I'm ashamed – it's a living reproof of my intellectual and aesthetic immaturity. Analogous feelings arise when one surveys the modern Russian city, with the crude holes in its architectural history.

Clearly such immaturity – an inability to foresee the aesthetic consequences of one's actions – if forgiveable in a young child, is utterly inadmissible in those architects who hold the fate of the city in their sway. Therefore, it is gratifying to see so many practising and future architects involved in the activities of the Romualdo del Bianco Foundation, and that it is devoting so much attention to architectural education, affording it such an important position on the palette of central creative interests.

A multitude of higher education institutions are always represented at the seminars and round table discussions organised by the Foundation, which also runs and monitors creative events, held in these same universities. As a matter of fact, that is how we were acquainted: Mr. Simone Giometti, the General Secretary of the Foundation, came to our city and attended a routine competition of architectural project work. His pleasant manner and consummate professionalism made a lasting impression. Later, in Florence, a meeting took place with the unique and wonderful man, Mr. Paolo del Bianco, the President of the Foundation, a person who combines depth and diversity of erudition with stormy romantic energy and a rare democracy (you are as likely to see him in VIP circles or with directors of multi-national organisations as amongst students and school pupils).

Since that time, meetings with representatives of the Foundation have become a regular occurrence for our university. In addition, the creation of the Foundation's Internet Portal 'Life Beyond Tourism', a powerful and helpful tool for getting to know significant sites in various corners of the world, is already making a significant contribution towards the development of appreciation of regional cultural heritage. We have already made a page on Samara, and we hope that we might consider a seminar in the future. And at last a group of our students are travelling were able to travel to a seminar in Florence - a kind of culmination of the involvement of Samara's future architects in the cultural-educational work of the Foundation.

I'm convinced that the Foundation will make many new friends in our city, and the city will in turn be given hope and the prospect of the preservation of its historic identity.

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STEFAN WESTRYCH - STEFAN WRONA Warsaw Technical University OPEN LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT OF FONDAZIONE ROMUALDO DEL BIANCO Dearest Paolo, As you surely remember, our relations started during your first visit in Warsaw in 1994 when you came from Cracow to the Faculty of Architecture at Warsaw University of Technology with prof. Kadłuczka and arch. Chrzanowski (if I remember the name properly). You already had precise ideas on how to help young people – students of architecture mostly from Eastern Europe to get to know better and to come closer to the Florence's rich cultural heritage. By offering a certain number of free-of charge stays in the VIVA Hotels network owned by Your Family, you initiated a programme that was developed few years later by the Fondazione Romualdo del Bianco.

During one of Your visits in Warsaw the problem of how to institutionalize this personal activity of Yours was put. Basing on our experiences of the Faculty of Architecture, we suggested that forming a foundation could be a right solution. Few years later the Fondazione Romualdo del Bianco was registered and we i.e. Stefan Wrona and Stefan Westrych became, let's say, the godfathers of the Foundation.

The Foundation has fiven the opportunity to fulfill, in a programmed and institutionalised way, diverse cultural, educational, scientific/editorial activities defined by numerous programmes, e.g.: • international workshops for architecture, music and arts students • scientific researches in different fields (also architecture) • editorial activities in collaboration with Florentine institutions • promotion, in the form of a competition, of the best thesis projects • collaboration with ICOMOS in organising international conferences on the protection of cultural heritage.

Polish professors and students from Warsaw have participated in numerous international workshops, exhibitions, semminars, conferences and research projects organised by the Foundation in 15 years of its existence. All these initiatives, i think, are well documented and archived in the secretariat of the Foundation.

Our relations with the Foundation and especially with You and your Family have a particular character. Our families know each other for over 20 years. Our children grew up together with the Foundation. We remember very well first years of our acquaintance, trips across the Tuscany, meetings in Forte dei Marmi, lardo di Colonnata, fresh onions in the market washed in the fountain and eaten raw with great taste...

We remember numerous Round Tables, opening of the Auditorium at Duomo, visits in Florentine museums, churches and squares. We remember great events celebrated in Salone del Cinquecento in Palazzo Vecchio, awards given to You by the Polish government in merit of Your Work realised through the Foundation. Lots of memories. Florence, thanks to the Foundation's activity, became our city, known as no other, we can say in a personal and intimate way...

We hope that after experiencing 15 years of the Fondazione Romualdo del Bianco activity, you'll become even stronger and that you'll continue to contribute to „the peace in the world... and friendship between nations”.

We are open and disposed to continue the collaboration; nevertheless we have to prepare „new force” of the new team of youngsters, who introduced by us would continue, with new and fresh ideas, this message you have sent 15 years ago. We wish to You and Your Family – the Soul and Heart of the Foundation – to be able to celebrate in great health the 30th anniversary in 2028 and that noone of us will be missing on that celebration.

With warmests regards

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ILSHAT YULDASHEV - JENNET YULDASHEVA Kyrgyz Russian Slavic University THE WORLD STANDS ON THE GOOD PEOPLE, KIND PEOPLES! Despite the high status of the University Professor, financial component does not allow most of us travel the world and sometimes even participate in professional conferences and congresses in the far abroad.

2005 - I was lucky - passed through strict selection I got an opportunity to have a short training in one of the prestigious universities of Germany - High School of medicine, Lower Saxony, Hannover.The pleasant bustle of preparation for the trip. We went together with my wife - she is also a doctor. KIND colleague of the University International Affairs Department, charming Tamara, gave us information about planned in Italy, Florence, scientific medical Symposium of physicians-cardiologists, conducted under the auspices and support of the International Fund Del Bianco Foundation.

In Germany training passed on as usual, lectures, seminars, operating theater, dressing rooms... Having a Schengen visa, we could take part in the Symposium in Florence. At the situation of not as sufficient funds for the trip, we decided to use more affordable way, as we thought on that time - railway and go to Italy. But very KIND man - Professor Hausamen J-E - Head of the clinic, prompted us another option - to use the services of tourist airline HLX where was very reasonable prices for airline trip tickets.

Brief correspondence with a very KIND and polite Del Bianco Foundation representative - Simona Giometti, and - we are ready to go to beautiful the Italy. Short luggage collecting, than flight from the invigorating freshness of late German autumn in the glow of the Italian sun - we land at the airport of Pisa. One observation moment at the time of landing - almost all the passengers of the plane of sustained and disciplined “Germans” become passionately emotional “Italians”. They started waving their hands, to prepare for an exit, shouting: «Pronto! Pronto!», answering the phone. Well, to be a doctor – is a good thing, because we understood part of the words: Bellissimo! Dextra! Sinistra! Amore!

We stayed at the hotel, which was also proposed by the Del Bianco Foundation and in the morning we arrived to get acquaintance with the organizers and participants of the Congress. Simona was not a lady, she turn up to very pleasant and KIND young gentleman – Simone. Simone Giometti. The delegations arrived from Russia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Poland, Armenia, other European, Baltic countries, we from Kyrgyzstan. Medical East-West Symposium “Ischemic heart disease, arrhythmias and iodine included disorders” was very successful. We have reported on our presentation, met colleagues from many countries. Met with the Head and President of the Foundation - Mr. Paolo del Bianco - very KIND, charming, contact, sensitive, friendly and intelligent gentleman. We got acquaintance with his wife, daughter Giovanna. The staff of the Fund tried to draw Congress productive, useful, and helpful for participants, and as a KIND hosts to introduce us to the best sights of Florence.

UFFIZI!!

UFFIZI!!

UFFIZI!!

This magic word besots about every people of the planet Earth! It is a Museum of masterpieces! This is the visit card of Florence, Tuscany, Italy!!! We were lucky to visit it. Visit it’s excellent halls. See the great creations of the finest masters of the Italian Renaissance, David, Botticelli's Birth of Venus, the repentant Mary Magdalene...

We were very happy to visit this symposium, and our believe that we must come back realized next 2006 year, on next symposium.

I am Professor. Dr. Ilshat Yuldashev. Now about my current position – I defended a Postdoctoral thesis, I’m a Professor, Head of Pediatric Stomatology, Maxillo-Facial and Plastic Surgery Department of Kyrgyz-Russian Slavonic University after 97

BOOK OF MEMORIES - ANNIVERSARY OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FONDAZIONE ROMUALDO DEL BIANCO

the name of BN Elzin, Professor, Department of Pediatric Stomatology Department, Kyrgyz State Medical Academy after the name of IK Akhunbaev, Professor, Department of Special Clinical Disciplines, International High Medical School of International University of the Kyrgyzstan. Professor of the Department of Stomatology, Maxillo-Facial Surgery, Kyrgyz State Medical Institute for Advanced and Postgraduate trainings. I am a Vice President of Stomatological Association of the Kyrgyz Republic.

My wife – Jennet Yuldasheva – Associate professor, Department of Internal Diseases for Stomatology and Pediatrics specialties of Kyrgyz-Russian Slavonic University after the name of BN Elzin.

Part of our success is because we all time met KIND peoples!

The world stands on the KIND peoples!

We are very thankful for all KIND men and women!

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ANNIVERSARY OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FONDAZIONE ROMUALDO DEL BIANCO - BOOK OF MEMORIES

HELENA ZEMANKOVA Brno University of Technology I was firstly invited to Florence and the Fondazione Romualdo Del Bianco by my colleagues from Faculty of Architecture in Bratislava. I was amazed by helpfulness of Mr. President Romualdo Del Bianco, as well as the whole leadership of the Foundation, their cultural activities, wide range of co-operation with universities teachers and students not only from Europe, but from distant continent as well. Due to professional approach of the Foundation not only myself but my students and colleagues from Faculty of Architecture in Brno as well, we had a chance to visit galleries in Florence, be acquainted with architectural and artistic monuments in Italy and had a chance to co-operate with Italian professionals.

I recall, as one of the most important co-operation, the European project Rescuing the Hidden European Wooden Churches Heritage an international methodology for implementing a database for restoration projects in 2006.

I wish you, to the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the Foundation, a lot of ideas, interesting activities and partners.

Along with my colleague and students we are looking forward our future co-operation.

I compliment to the Mr. President Paolo Del Bianco to the successful and reach life of the Foundation.

With regards.

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BOZ˙ENA ZIMNOWODA-KRAJEWSKA Nicolaus Copernicus University - Torun

My friendship with the Foundation has long roots, because of 1999. The person who invited me to participate in a workshop student was Danuta Kłosek-Kozłowska from Warsaw University of Technology. The first meetings are always the most intensely lived out. The same was with the first trip to Florence. Preparations to draw up topic of workshops require significant effort students. The enthusiasm due to the recent entering Torun on the UNESCO World Heritage List (in 1997.) spread to the students who with fervor made a presentation of our city. Fifteen years is not a long period of time, but in terms of technological progress - huge. Internet and computer were not yet the basic tools work. Graphical presentation of the history and values of Torun had to be done manually. By working together, a group of students performing this task made friends one another. A lot of emotions has brought travel by coach that lasted nearly 24 hours. The biggest impression with the trip is luminous at night snow on the slopes of the Alps. We left with the winter wonderland, and the next day we were in the spring fairy tale. And yet it was the beginning of February. The meeting with the Foundation is to know an amazing man with a great heart and open to other people. Gone were any concerns about whether our work will obtain approval. The famous Toruń gingerbread in colorful packaging which imitate Thorn monuments have been adopted by Italian hosts with great joy. The program of our stay was very rich. In addition to the presentation of the results of joint work of different groups of students, we visited the most important museums, got to know the city. Paolo Del Bianco showed us places near Florence, which themselves probably would not get. Besides Fiesole, was Bivigliano, Pratolino, Scarperia, villas Medicci in Cafaggido and Trebbio. At home Antonio Natali - friend of Paolo - for the first time tasted grappa. Towards the end of our stay in Florence we visited Mrs. Maria Luigia Fuat, who led a school graphic Il Bisonte. Initially very intimate meetings during student workshops in fifteen years evolved into a very diverse initiatives. Ideas are often born at annual meetings of the Round Table.

Contact the Foundation was very important for me. First, I had the opportunity to meet many people from different countries. With some I met in other circumstances. In 2010, together with Professor Tracewski of Minsk were working on a program for the restoration of the cathedral in Mogilev (Belarus). Participation in the international project S.Gimignano (2001-2002) was a great experience for me. I had the opportunity to learn a different point of view associated with the problem of adaptation of historical architecture to modern needs. The hospitality and cordiality Paolo Del Bianco and his wife Giovanna has allowed us to treat the Foundation, as the growing family. Because after all we participated in a family celebration when Carlotta solemnly informed us about their engagement. A few years later, with the hope we were waiting for favorable news about the health of Paolo after operations.

Initiatives Foundation, inspired by the ideas of Paolo Del Bianco, lead always to widen directions of interest. This is especially important for the problems of the protection of cultural diversity and cultural heritage. I had the opportunity to participate in two events in this area under the patronage of the Foundation. The first event is 11th International Seminar: forum UNESCO / University and Heritage (Florence, 11-15 September 2006). The second event is an International Conference: The Life Quality in City Centers. Conditions for Residence and Tourism - Torun / Bydgoszcz (Poland) 13-15 May 2011.

Anniversaries are always an opportunity to reflect on - hence the initiative of the Foundation directed its members to present their impressions with the fifteen years of activity. In May of this year saw the opening of a beautiful seat of the Foundation in the historic Palazzo Coppini. I think that is a very important moment in the history of the Foundation. I hope Palazzo Coppini will become the place where the next generation of young researchers from different cultures and cultural heritage enthusiasts will compare their experiences and initiate new activities. I wish all the members of the Foundation who build the present to always remember the timeless value of a friendship. From it arises goodwill towards people, curiosity, tolerance and commitment. This is the future.

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MIECZYSŁAW ZIOMEK Nicolaus Copernicus University - Torun Just a few words about my cooperation with the Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation in Florence, which has been going on for 15 years.

My very first meeting with the President of the Paolo Del Bianco Foundation in 1997 in Florence made a big impression on me; I met a very cordial man, full of energy and enthusiasm.

During this meeting he presented his idea to us (the participants of a workshop): ‘integration through culture’, a phrase which came from the Manifesto of the Foundation.

This motto has been dear to me, and for the past 15 years of the Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation, its ideas have also lived outside of Florence in the plein air meetings I organized in Banská Bystrica, in Vilnius, Lviv, and many places in Poland.

Through these meetings we (art professors) share our experience and get to know one another’s teaching methods.

As a project manager for all these years, I have taken to Florence 33 students from my Faculty of Fine Arts. I saw my students experience every trip to this beautiful city and get artistically involved. I am aware that these workshops were important in their artistic development.

Now we all know first hand how important integration through culture is.

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FIRST DRAFT OF THE INTERVIEW BY EMANUELE DI CASTRO

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EMANUELE DI CASTRO

BOZZA

Studio Staff di Roma

8/08/2013

LA FONDAZIONE ROMUALDO DEL BIANCO: ORIGINI DI UNA MISSIONE

Per capire il significato e il ruolo della Fondazione è necessario ricercarne le tracce, più o meno visibili ed oggettivamente verificabili che precedono l’atto ufficiale della sua costituzione il 3 novembre 1998. Una ricostruzione affidata alla memoria del suo fondatore, dei familiari e più diretti amici e collaboratori che hanno partecipato, in modi diversi ma accomunati da una stessa ispirazione, alla nascita, consolidamento e affermazione di questa istituzione.

Perché ogni nascita, rispetto al giorno in cui qualcosa viene alla luce, rappresenta solo la conclusione di un periodo di gestazione in cui un organismo inizia a vivere, ad acquistare una propria fisionomia, ad acquisire una propria identità nell’ambiente di cui è destinato a fare parte e solo tentando di ricostruire il processo della sua gestazione si riusciranno a capire meglio la sua morfologia di valori, contenuti, programmi, risorse, quello che gli consentirà di affermarsi, cioè vivere, sopravvivere, svilupparsi: con questo approccio si cercherà ora di ricostruire alcuni tratti fondamentali della Fondazione Romualdo del Bianco nella sua veste e identità con cui oggi si presenta sulla scena sociale e abbiamo imparato a conoscerla: Life Beyond Tourism.

Cercando di rintracciare i sentimenti che sono all’origine della Fondazione, lo scenario è quello politico e sociale dei 20 anni della Guerra Fredda, un blocco di popoli all’Oriente dell’Europa privati di molti diritti e separati da tante altre nazioni con cui tuttavia condividevano valori fondamentali e percorsi della storia pregressa, vittime di bugie e minacce e verso i quali istintivamente il Fondatore avverte di nutrire una sorte di affetto, in quanto popoli soggiogati: un sentimento che in qualche modo è avvalorato dalla convinzione che allora l’Occidente era nella verità.

Oggi in questa ricostruzione, a posteriori, delle origini di tale missione, incontriamo popoli e culture diverse, che in parte si scontrano ed in parte tentano un difficile, ma naturale terreno di confronto, semplicemente conoscersi meglio. Perché nel processo incerto e conflittuale di mettere a fuoco una visione del mondo il Fondatore, Paolo del Bianco, riconosce che anche noi vivevamo in tante falsità, lo stile americano dell’usa e getta, detto con altre parole riconoscere che nella vita non ci sarà mai certezza assoluta e bene e questa sarà una conquista che richiederà tempo, risorse ed una istituzione dedicata a questo difficile compito.

Cronologicamente siamo alla fine del 1989, l’anno della caduta del muro di Berlino, vissuto come crinale della mia vita. Cosa potevo fare per questi fratelli?

A quel momento i sentimenti e valori personali vissuti osservando e partecipando a ciò che avveniva su uno scenario mondiale s’innescano e confluiscono su altre esperienze e decisioni personali, quelle di un imprenditore del turismo che deve affrontare una crisi del business del settore per la compresenza di tanti fattori, endogeni ed esogeni.

Infatti, quasi contemporaneamente alla caduta del muro di Berlino l’Architetto sta raggiungendo l’apice della propria storia imprenditoriale con l’acquisizione di 2 nuovi alberghi,che richiede grande impegno di tempo, notevole sforzo finanziario, gestione di una capacità produttiva raddoppiata in termini di camere da mettere a disposizione della clientela,proprio quando la Guerra del Golfo, l’epidemia della Sars ed altre criticità stanno mettendo in crisi il turismo, soprattutto a Firenze dove non arrivavano più, come in passato, i turisti americani:un intreccio di eventi e problemi che sollecitano riflessioni e ripensamenti,la sensazione e decisione d’imboccare una nuova strada, un rimescolamento di carte in cui vengono recuperate e rielaborate idee e suggestioni, personali e sociopolitiche, degli anni precedenti.

Così mentre dall’interno della realtà aziendale continuano a provenire ancora quei vecchi segnali indirizzati a continuare sulla strada fino allora percorsa, l’imprenditore diventa sempre più consapevole che ci voleva qualcosa di eccezionale,pur mantenendo il legame indissolubile con Firenze. Era diventato urgente, moralmente ed economicamente,andare in contro a paesi e persone che si stavano aprendo al mondo occidentale, in pratica bisognava sotto il profilo aziendale cambiare arena di competizione, personalmente sentirsi pronto e profondamente motivato a captare un messaggio di integrazione

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interculturale ancora in fieri,ma già decodificabile. Un processo di diversificazione congiunta, del business e della propria scala di valori ed interessi, da quel momento legati allo stesso destino, una svolta che conclude quella fase che porta alla nascita ufficiale della Fondazione, destinata a ricordare, non a caso, il nome del padre di chi di quella Fondazione è stato ispiratore, artefice, presidente.

Se infatti la missione della Fondazione sarà poi quella sinteticamente racchiusa nel “ precetto” Life beyond tourism, (un mondo di opportunità, oltre il turismo mordi e fuggi) non è a caso il richiamo, nel logo, all’influenza che la storia pregressa della famiglia Del Bianco abbia giocato in questo progetto in cui i valori del lavoro, della socializzazione, della cultura e dell’imprenditorialità si tramanderanno da una generazione all’altra, pur nel rispetto delle tante differenze individuali, il vero, autentico patrimonio di esperienze, ricordi e messaggi educativi, in vario modo confluiti nella vocazione e identità della Fondazione Del Bianco.

Tornando indietro, circa un secolo prima che vedesse la luce la Fondazione, il nonno paterno, Giovanni, apparteneva a quel mondo socialista delle società di mutuo soccorso,che profondeva anche tanto impegno e dedizione nel lavoro, una cultura del fare, da piccoli imprenditori dotati d’inventiva, voglia di rischiare, dividendo la propria vita a stretto contatto con gli operai dell’impresa edile, c persone di diverse estrazione sociale ma accomunati da un destino comune di lavoro e di umana socializzazione. Un incontro di valori non molto distanti da quelli che ispireranno i primi passi della Fondazione, irrobustiti da una forte armonia familiare che riesce sempre a superare,quei problemi di convivenza e reciproca solidarietà che spesso una famiglia allargata in più generazioni è costretta ad affrontare, di fatto un’atmosfera tendenzialmente coesa in cui la spinta all’integrazione di tutti i membri decisamente sempre prevale sulle naturali differenze e spinte centrifughe.

Si tratta di quali indizi, tracce, memorie lentamente ma profondamente l’idea della Fondazione abbia preso luce e nutrito il suo fondatore, come un fiume che diventa tale solo con l’apporto di tanti affluenti che insieme danno vita ad un grande flusso di energia che scorre, appunto come fiume, in un territorio che, tra l’altro, stava assumendo una diversa fisionomia sociale e culturale. Sono infatti gli anni in cui stava prendendo piede una sorta di inquinamento morale causato dall’avanzata di una società consumistica, promossa da quella occidentale a fronte della quale quella dei paesi dell’Europa orientale o dell’Asia si presentano come depositari di culture più integre, con cui confrontarsi e associarsi in un progetto di reciproco dialogo e proficua conoscenza.

E’ soprattutto in occasione delle festività del Natale il momento cronologico e simbolico in cui nel futuro artefice di questa Fondazione scatta la consapevolezza e l’urgenza di sostituire a tante cerimonie consumistiche occasioni d’incontro e d’insegnamento diverso, per sé e la famiglia, ma proiettata, in prospettiva, in una dimensione molto più ampia, sostituendo a quei rituali rumorosi e umanamente aridi la possibilità d’incontri e conoscenze con un mondo orientale ancora partecipe di reali valori tradizionali, ma che rischiavano di poter rapidamente evaporare sotto l’impatto della civiltà consumistica occidentale. E’ matura così quella svolta personale e familiare che precede di poco la nascita della Fondazione,un evento che valutandolo oggi a posteriori, risulta più chiaro nelle sue istanze fondanti. E’ anche l’inizio delle riflessioni che sono elementi di fondo del Manifesto della Fondazione, scritta poi a Cracovia nell’autunno 2000, nel corso del Convegno Cracovia 2000.

La Fondazione si trova così, di fatto, a collocarsi come una cerniera tra l’ovest e l’est, nel momento in cui il disgelo politico favorisce l’incontro, il ravvicinamento, il bisogno di scambiarsi non solo merci ma anche culture e valori, seppure ancora molto distanti. Un ravvicinamento favorito anche dalla ripresa e sviluppo del turismo, più impetuoso e consumistico ad ovest, più guardingo e ancora incipiente all’est, ma comunque uno strumento che saltando ogni logica politica favorisce immediatamente uno scambio socioculturale che inizia a circolare tra vari popoli coinvolti in questo processo: in altri termini e come abitualmente avviene,arriva a maturazione un destino personale quando alcune condizioni esterne favoriscono la nascita di qualcosa di nuovo, un atto creativo,una modalità innovativa di proporsi sulla scena sociale e culturale.

Diventa così sempre più chiara la missione della Fondazione, rendere fruibile il patrimonio culturale di tanti paesi, soprattutto di quelli più svantaggiati, nell’ottica di sviluppare un dialogo su valori intangibili più che sulla pura conservazione e manutenzione di patrimoni e reliquie artistiche peraltro ammirevoli, un viaggio per conoscere valori diversi dai propri, facendo argine e proponendo un’alternativa alle idee e comportamenti che guidano, orientano e si stanno impadronendo del turismo di massa.

Una missione che seppure lentamente si fa strada anche all’interno dell’ambiente familiare,nella misura in cui si affermano nuovi valori educativi , si tratti del circolo delle amicizie, del come trascorrere le festività, scambiarsi doni e regali, nell’insieme un sistema di vita diverso rispetto al passato ed all’ambiente circostante, che all’inizio poteva apparire come una forma di inaridimento ed evaporazione del passato prima di mettere in luce e condividere altre forme di socialità. Vi

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gioca a favore di tale conversione culturale la città di Firenze, con tutto il suo patrimonio passato e presente, nel bene e nel male, riassunto nella constatazione che si ride e si piange con Firenze,in quel tempo città ferita dall’atto vandalico di P. Cannata, un riappropriarsi completamente di questo patrimonio culturale, voltare le spalle ai viaggi in USA che fino allora erano stati il modello di riferimento culturale per cominciare a guardare e visitare tanti paesi dell’est, cominciando a contattarli inviando delle lettere simbolicamente missionarie,ma agli inizi prive di immediata risposta all’auspicio e domanda del fondatore: che posso fare?

Siamo nel 1992, ma due anni dopo, il 1994, si verifica inaspettatamente un primo contatto con un docente della Georgia che fa sperare che per la Fondazione si possa finalmente aprire un mondo di opportunità, riconoscendo e dimostrando a se stesso di avere ragione, aprendo cuore e mente ad una speranza che inizialmente si configurava come semplice sfida, ma che gradualmente diventa messe di risultati, paesi visitati, incontri, ospitalità di studenti e docenti di tanti paesi portatori di antiche tradizioni, riconoscimenti ufficiali o personali,eventi culturali, adesioni di organismi internazionali, pubblicazioni,una struttura operativa che giorno e giorno lavora per concretizzare la missione ormai concettualmente limpida di Life Beyond Tourism.

Un cammino percorso nell’arco di due decenni, che inizia con l’incontro, insperato, in Georgia nel maggio del 1996, con il Patriarca Elia Secondo, in cui per la prima volta, anche in concomitanza con il regalo di una croce d’argento di Santa Nino e la Benedizione di Sua Santità, il futuro presidente della Fondazione sente che quella sarebbe stata la mia missione, quasi una investitura simbolica, la certezza di un totale impegno personale a dedicarsi a questa attività, stabilire questo sistema di relazioni con quei popoli fino allora esclusi, dimenticati, ancora lontani da un dialogo con il nostro occidente.

Poi, per caso, siamo sempre nel 1996, settembre, un invito nella veste di imprenditore, in Polonia, a Cracovia ed a seguire a Varsavia, in un paese più vicino e più benestante della Georgia dove era scoccata la scintilla, un paese (la Georgia) tuttavia più lontano e ancora schiacciato da una situazione economica disperata. Iniziano allora gli scambi e l’ospitalità fraterna e familiare con i primi studenti polacchi, accolti in casa in Italia, ma pronti a ricambiare in patria, trovarsi tutti immersi in un’atmosfera conviviale inimmaginabile e fatta di autentica, reciproca, generosità, partecipare ad una lunga, interminabile cena nello spirito di una autentica amicizia tra culture distanti geograficamente e tradizionalmente , ma accomunate da un comune riconoscersi nei valori e riti delle atmosfere familiari. Da allora la vita familiare si è trasformata in piena dedicazione per questa missione, dimenticando fine settimana, festività, anche le natalizie e ferie; tutto il tempo disponibile era dedicate all’apertura verso gli altri per far conoscere meglio noi stessi, nell’auspicio di contribuire a costruire opportunità e un metodo di dialogo tra culture. In tutto questo è stato di particolare utilità l’auto personale con 9 posti, un piccolo vano che consentiva lo spostamento di varie persone e cose nei viaggi con questi nuovi fratelli da Firenze in varie località in Toscana. La Fondazione ha assunto pertanto un carattere molto poco formale, molto familiare e genuino, un carattere riconosciuto da tutti, in cui ricorre spesso, rievocandone soprattutto gli inizi, il termine semplicità e a volte anche quello “divertente”: l’avvio e sviluppo della Fondazione vissuta e partecipata intensamente da tutti i membri della famiglia dove semplicità ha significato il farsi e consolidarsi di tante nuove amicizie con persone di lingua, costumi e diversa estrazione sociale, semplicità e divertimento nell’organizzare la convivenza quotidiana nel corso di giornate trascorse insieme.

La Fondazione, quindi, come autentica sorgente di vita, nella piena consapevolezza di stare vivendo un’esperienza molto particolare , sicuramente innovativa sul piano della conoscenza interpersonale ed interculturale, “ volersi conoscere… vedere gli altri come sono”, detto con parole ancora più semplici “ essere vissute con il mondo in casa”, in una condizione di autentica indipendenza ideologica.

La storia della Fondazione da questi inizi di vero “ statu nascenti” alla sua ufficializzazione come istituzione formalmente costituita (3 novembre 1998 atto Notaio Alessandro Ruggiero) e progressivamente sempre più diffusamente riconosciuta ed apprezzata, diventa cronistoria di cui qui (non so ancora quel che sarà a conclusione) sono ricostruite fedelmente le varie tappe e che qui si vogliono solo accennare quelle ricordate, sul filo della memoria, dal suo fondatore.

L’entrata a far parte del Rotary di Firenze, i primi contatti con giapponesi desiderosi di conoscere Firenze, la laurea della primogenita ed il suo successivo interesse e disponibilità ad occuparsi della Fondazione, l’urgenza di dare stabilità e sicurezza ad oltre 100 famiglie direttamente coinvolte nell’attività alberghiera dell’impresa turistica che ha voluto partecipare e sostenere questa Fondazione fin dalla sua nascita, anche quale centro Studi ed Esperienze per un turismo diverso dal noto turismo ‘mordi e fuggi’ indifferente ai sentimenti e ai valori , i primi tentativi di individuare marchio e logo per la nascente Fondazione (Rodebi, Viva Hotels ?) la messa a punto del progetto di un turismo innovativo ed alternativo a quello dilagante, consumismo vs. accoglienza, la strutturazione della rete di relazioni internazionali e di sviluppo dei contatti personali, il coinvolgimento via via più intenso e operativo di tutto il nucleo familiare nelle varie attività della

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BOOK OF MEMORIES - ANNIVERSARY OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FONDAZIONE ROMUALDO DEL BIANCO

Fondazione sempre più frequentemente ad altissimo livello, la raggiunta consapevolezza che un patrimonio culturale non va solo tutelato e salvaguardato dall’obsolescenza materiale e spirituale ma soprattutto reso fruibile nello scambio diretto tra persone partecipi di origini culturali diverse al fine di favorire il dialogo tra culture in un mondo che si avvicina alla soglia dei 10 miliardi di abitanti.

A conclusione di tutto ciò il sentimento di aver avuto successo e la sua consacrazione materiale con l’inaugurazione di Palazzo Coppini, il ciclo di una missione ormai compiuta ma che si proietta ancora avanti, come aver messo in mare una nave destinata a raggiungere mete ancora più impegnative..

Una nave che ha toccato decine e decine di paesi, ospitato centinaia e centinaia di studenti e personalità del mondo accademico, premiata con tante onorificenze per i suoi viaggi e missioni intorno al mondo e che ha trovato nel Palazzo Coppini il luogo dove ormeggiare prima di ripartire ancora per tanti incontri in altri, nuovi paesi.

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ANNIVERSARY OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FONDAZIONE ROMUALDO DEL BIANCO - BOOK OF MEMORIES

Note: In the following pages some testimonials are given as appreciation of the Fondazione Romualdo Del Bianco’s work on behalf of one of the most respected people of the cultural world, Antonio Paolucci, Special Superintendent for the State Museums of Florence and former Minister of Cultural and Environmental Heritage of the Italian Republic.

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BOOK OF MEMORIES - ANNIVERSARY OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FONDAZIONE ROMUALDO DEL BIANCO

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ANNIVERSARY OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FONDAZIONE ROMUALDO DEL BIANCO - BOOK OF MEMORIES

Parte conclusiva dell'intervento del Prof. Antonio Paolucci in occasione della presentazione del DVD “Gli Uffizi” di Art Media Studio all’Auditorium al Duomo di Firenze il 18 dicembre 2006

“Permettetemi di ricordare quello che ha detto prima il Dott. Del Bianco a proposito di questo auditorium, del destino che avrebbe potuto avere e che non ha avuto, perché in questa città c’è ancora gente che, come lui, come la fondazione che lui rappresenta, colloca certe cose al di sopra di certe altre.

Non che i denari non siano importanti, non che il commercio e le attività legate al turismo non lo siano, ma ecco, avere la consapevolezza – e il Dott. Del Bianco ce l’ha ed i suoi amici ce l’hanno – che esistono nel mondo, nella vita di ognuno di noi, delle gerarchie, delle cose più importanti e altre meno importanti.

Quello che ha detto andrebbe secondo me, veramente, conservato, mantenuto nella memoria perché è consolante che ci sia ancora gente capace di fare un discorso come quello e soprattutto di dimostrarlo concretamente.”

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Finito di stampare nel mese di Marzo 2017 Firenze Fondazione Romualdo Del BiancoÂŽ - Life Beyond TourismÂŽ

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JordanRepublic (Amman,(Ceske Tishreen), India (Bhubaneswar, Gangtok), IranCesky (Kerman, Teheran), Indonesia (Jakarta), Ireland (Cork), Israel (Jerusalem, Dominican Republic Domingo), Estonia (Tallin), Finland Rovaniemi, Helsinki, Tampere), France (Montpellier, Lyon, Kosovo Paris), Georgia (Batumi, Kutaisi, Netanya), Italygen), (Florence, Naples, Rome, (Santo Milan, Turin, Reggio Calabria, Venice, Pisa,(Turku, Benevento, Genoa, Pescara), Kazakhstan (Almaty, Chimkent), (Pristina), Tbilisi), Germany (Frankfurt, Konstanz, Aachen, Berlin, (Skopje), Munich, Karlsruhe), Greece (Atene, Tessaloniki), Hungary(Chisinau), (Budapest, Esztergom),(Podgorica),MoJapan (Chiba, Tokyo, Kyoto, Kyrgyzstan (Bishkek), Latvia (Riga), Lithuania (Vilnius), Macedonia Malta (Valletta), Mexico (Mexico City), Moldova Montenegro Kobe, Nagoya, Osaka), (Amman, Tishreen), India (Bhubaneswar, Gangtok), Teheran), Indonesia(Quezon (Jakarta), Ireland (Cork), Israel (Jerusalem, rocco (Casablanca), Nederland (Delft,Jordan 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