DEEP SURFACES. ARCHITECTURE TO ENHANCE THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE OF UNESCO SITES

Sponsored by UNESCO and Royal Commission for AlUla in collaboration with Santagata Foundation for the Economics of Culture

With the upcoming closing of the exhibition “Deep Surfaces. Architecture to Enhance the Visitor Experience of UNESCO Sites,” a special conference will be held on November 12, 2025 to celebrate its journey and explore the future of visitor experience design at heritage sites.

The event will bring together managers of visitor centers, cultural institutions and representatives of the museum community to share perspectives and identify new opportunities for collaboration. Discussions will focus on advancing impact in terms of sustainability, community engagement, visitor management and heritage interpretation.

Jointly organized by UNESCO and the Royal Commission for AlUla, as part of their broader partnership, the exhibition is hosted by UNESCO’s Regional Office for Science and Culture in Europe at Palazzo Zorzi in Venice, as a Collateral Event of the 19th. International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia.

Open to the public until Nov. 23, 2025, the exhibition presents a curated selection of experiences and best practices from more than 50 visitor centers and similar facilities located in UNESCO sites around the world.

The conference will mark the concluding moment of this global exploration-an opportunity to enhance shared learning and build new partnerships for a sustainable future of heritage destinations.

Introductory greetings

  • Andrea Billi, RO.ME – Museum Exhibition
  • Magdalena Landry, UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe
  • Silvia Barbone, Royal Commission for AlUla

Visitor centers and museums as mediators between heritage, people and territories

  • Simona von Eyb, Bamberg World Heritage Office (Germany)
  • Lei Zhengguang, Mogao Caves Visitor Centre (China)
  • Alessandra Riccadonna, Deputy Mayor for Culture, Mantua (Italy)
  • Alina Ciobanu, Drag de Hațeg Association (Romania)
  • Leila Chapman, Royal Commission for AlUla (Saudi Arabia)
  • Francesco Sirano, National Archaeological Museum in Naples (Italy)

Chair: Matteo Rosati, UNESCO

Closure and final considerations

Alessio Re, Santagata Foundation for the Economy of Culture – Foundation in official relations with UNESCO

Language: English

The conference will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 12, from 3 to 5:30 p.m. at the Auditorium.