Hacking World Heritage

26.01.2026

“Hacking World Heritage – 48 Hours of Ideas for UNESCO in Padua” is a two-day design marathon taking place in Padua on Friday 27 and Saturday 28 February 2026 at the San Gaetano Cultural Centre.

Aimed at young people aged 18 to 30, the initiative is part of Visioni Comuni, the civic participation programme supporting the update of the Management Plan for the UNESCO World Heritage site “Padua’s 14th-century Fresco Cycles.”

Over 48 hours, the San Gaetano venue will become a true cultural hackathon: a creative lab where participants with different backgrounds and skills work in teams to turn community needs, insights and ideas into practical, feasible proposals for the care and enhancement of local heritage.

The event offers an opportunity to collaborate in an inspiring environment, test new design tools and approaches, explore key cultural sites in the city, and contribute in a tangible way to their future. At the end of the marathon, each team will present a final output—ideas, micro-projects or tools—that may be considered for inclusion in the updated UNESCO site Management Plan.

Registration is required to take part.