Italy is also set to receive the 2026 EU Prize for Cultural Heritage

Brussels – Italy is among the winners of the European Heritage Awards, presented annually by the European Commission to the finest examples of the protection and conservation of sites of historical interest. The 2026 edition is won, on behalf of Italy, by the Polirone monastic complex in San Benedetto Po, a town near Mantua in Lombardy. The site is considered a model of public commitment to restoration and regeneration, as well as an example of energy sustainability and innovative educational capacity, through interactive and inclusive accessibility measures implemented following the works, which began in 2013 after the complex had fallen into disrepair and neglect. 

The Commissioner for Culture, Glenn Micallef, offered his “congratulations” on the win. “This year’s winners demonstrate how Europe’s rich cultural heritage inspires creativity, promotes innovation, strengthens social resilience, and helps shape a more sustainable and inclusive future for us all.” Their achievements demonstrate both the power of heritage to bring people together and the importance of protecting it for future generations, while celebrating the richness and diversity of Europe’s cultural heritage.”