Twinning signed between Villa d’Este in Tivoli and Palazzo d’Estate in Beijing

With deep respect for cultural roots and with the aim of enhancing the historical heritage for future generations, a historic twinning was signed in recent days between the famous UNESCO site of Villa d’Este in Tivoli and the Summer Palace in Beijing. This agreement, symbolized as a ‘common trait’ between two thousand-year-old civilisations, places cultural dialogue, environmental protection and sustainable development at the centre. ”Talking about bridges between cultures is now a consolidated concept. Here, however, we celebrate a trait, a symbolic sign that links Western culture, uniquely represented by Italy, to that of the Far East, embodied by the monumental tradition of China”, states Andrea Bruciati, director of Villa d’ Este.

A bond that takes shape not only through words, but also through Chinese ideograms, which contain concepts and meanings, reflecting the sacredness and complexity of the graphic sign. A century ago the Italian philosopher Benedetto Croce spoke of ”updating the past”, a concept that resonates today in the ambition of Tivoli and Beijing not to stop at preserving their sites as a legacy, but to experience them as a present and future heritage. This perspective finds expression in the twinning project: two sites united by their membership of UNESCO, two spaces rich in history that intend to create a platform for dialogue and cultural renewal.

Villa d’Este, with its famous fountains, and the Summer Palace in Beijing, together, represent a fusion between nature and architecture, where every day new cultural and synaesthetic horizons are ‘drawn’, awakening a unique sensorial perception. The artistic itineraries, historic gardens and monumental architecture thus become an opportunity for mutual learning, stimulating a regenerative vision of culture.

Among the founding values ​​of this collaboration, the concepts of continuatio and renovatio of ancient Rome emerge: respecting and keeping tradition alive, while renewing it according to contemporary sensitivities. Just as Hadrian and Cardinal Hippolytus II were pioneers of their time, Villa d’Este and the Summer Palace today redesign their role in the contemporary world, becoming meeting points for artists, scholars and visitors from all over the world.

The twinning with Beijing underlines the common desire to promote cultural tourism, environmental sustainability and landscape care. In this regard, the project aims to create new connections between people and the environment, thanks to the valorisation of the aquatic ecosystem and environmental education. This integrated approach intends to transform the UNESCO sites of Tivoli and Beijing into living museums, where the archaeological and artistic heritage dialogues with contemporaneity, becoming inspiration for new generations.