The Fortress of Bellinzona was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000 as the only example in the entire Alpine region of medieval military architecture composed of several castles, a bulwark that completely blocked off the Ticino valley, and the walls that surrounded the medieval town. This makes Bellinzona an exceptional specimen among the imposing fortifications of the fifteenth century, both for the size of the architectural works, a result of the site and topography, and for the excellent state of conservation of the entire complex.

The World Heritage List is based on the “Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage“.

Adopted in Paris in 1972, this Convention arose from the revolutionary idea of placing cultural and natural heritage of exceptional universal value under the protection of all humanity. Cultural and natural heritage is subject to phenomena of spontaneous natural degradation or alteration or destruction directly caused by human beings. The degradation or disappearance of a World Heritage site means the loss of an Outstanding (and therefore unique) and Universal (i.e. important for all peoples of the world) specimen. The Convention defines the types of natural or cultural sites that may be entered on the World Heritage List and the duties of States Parties in identifying potential sites, as well as their role in protecting and safeguarding those sites. The Acceding States undertake to register, protect, and conserve the world heritage located on their territory. At the same time, they undertake to ensure international cooperation and mutual assistance to fulfil these duties.

The World Heritage Convention has become established to the point that today it is a legal instrument recognised by almost the entire international community. The World Heritage List, which currently includes 1154 cultural and natural assets in 167 countries (as of 01.01.2023), reflects the richness and diversity of the Earth. It includes monuments, works of art, and urban landscapes that testify to the progress resulting from the interaction of societies and the evolution of knowledge and identities.

A management plan for a World Heritage site is an integrated planning and action concept that establishes objectives and measures for the protection, conservation, use, and development of World Heritage sites.

The revised version of the Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention, which entered into force on 1 February, 2005, makes such a plan mandatory for sites on the World Heritage list. A Management Plan for Fortress of Bellinzona was drawn up for the first time in 2022 as part of the development project of the UNESCO site by the City of Bellinzona and the Republic and Canton Ticino.

The Management Plan contains a description of the World Heritage site and its values, a summary of the means of protection, and a presentation of the management system. It also sets outs the main objectives and related measures for the protection of Bellinzona’s World Heritage site for the period from 2022 to 2025.