REDAZIONE| ROME, 6 FEBRUARY 2026
Today Italy, which is no longer merely a “geographical expression,” possesses the largest cultural heritage in the world. It is home to 61 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, ranking first globally, followed by China and Germany. This primacy carries great responsibility. It entrusts us with the mission of being standard-bearers of the preservation of the world’s cultural heritage, champions in the fight against destruction and cancel culture.
(The devastation of ISIS in Palmyra in 2015)
In the event of conflicts between nations, and also in the case of internal conflicts, the destruction of artworks and cultural sites may be collateral damage, but it can also be pursued deliberately as a symbolic act or as cultural “genocide.” In 1954 Italy was among the 37 States that signed the Hague Convention “for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict.” This convention established the identification and marking of cultural assets, included in shared registers, with a special, recognizable emblem: the Blue Shield. Furthermore, special units responsible for prevention were created within armed forces, and sanctions were established for violators.
(Blue Shield for Cultural Heritage)
In 2014 and 2015 devastating attacks were carried out against the cultural heritage of Iraq and Syria, and the UN Security Council responded by prohibiting the trade in antiquities originating from those countries. In 2015 UNESCO incorporated the protection of culture into humanitarian action, security strategies, and peace processes. Italy requested and obtained from UNESCO’s Executive Council the creation of a “Blue Helmets” task force for culture.
The specialized operational unit “Unite4Heritage” is composed of approximately 30 Carabinieri officers from the Cultural Heritage Protection Unit and around 30 civilian experts (archaeologists, restorers, and art historians). The task force assesses risks, implements safety measures, and provides assistance with transfers for safeguarding purposes. It represents an Italian excellence in the protection of cultural heritage at the international level.
(Kiev Cave Lavra)
Today the cultural emergency is in Ukraine, home to eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The historic centers of Lviv and Odessa, the Residence of the Metropolitans of Bukovina and Dalmatia in the city of Chernivtsi, Saint Sophia Cathedral, and the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra in Kyiv are at risk. More than 300 cultural sites have been damaged. UNESCO has initiated satellite monitoring and the use of Blue Shields.
While in Europe war extinguishes hundreds of thousands of lives and destroys sites of art, in the United States, in Florida, from 13 to 15 February, the “Palm Beach Cavallino Classic” will take place—an annual exhibition of the most beautiful Ferrari automobiles in the United States.
During the event, Sotheby’s will auction an exclusive selection of Ferraris. Access to the preview will be by appointment only, and entry to the auction will be restricted to registered bidders and consignors.
Lot 113 – Ferrari LaFerrari, year 2015, estimate: $4,450,000 – $4,750,000
Presented at the Geneva Motor Show in 2013, it is one of the 499 examples planned and built through January 2016. It features a 6.3-liter V12 engine paired with an additional 161-horsepower electric motor. Together, the two engines deliver a total output of 949 horsepower, with acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.4 seconds. The official sale price was $1.3 million, and the entire production run was sold before the first car had even been completed.