Italy: Bergamo and Brescia: culture capitals in 2023

Rome: Culture capital bid by Bergamo and Brescia is seen as a symbol of hope and rebirth for two cities devastated by the coronavirus.

Italy’s chamber of deputies has approved the candidature of Bergamo and Brescia as the Italian Capitals of Culture 2023 in a symbol of hope and rebirth for the two cities which were devastated by the covid-19 pandemic.

The candidature, which is awaiting the final formal go-ahead by the Italian senate, will see the cities bypass the usual application process as part of Italy’s €55 billion stimulus package to help the nation rebuild itself after the coronavirus emergency, reports Artribune.

The move has also seen two historic rivals join forces, using culture as a starting point in their recovery after their darkest days as the epicentre of Italy’s covid-19 crisis.

The mayor of Brescia, Emilio Del Buono, said the candidature could be “symbol of a recovery of the country, of a heavily wounded north,” reports Artribune.

This view was echoed by his counterpart in Bergamo, Giorgio Gori, who pointed out that culture was among the sectors to suffer the most during the carnage wreaked on the region by the coronavirus.

Army trucks take coffins out of Bergamo
Once the senate gives the green light, the two cities have until the end of January 2022 to present a unified project to Italy’s culture ministry, outlining a series of initiatives aimed at strengthening their cultural heritage.