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Italy report

Heritage and Community Action

By Marta Arosio

Medieval Architecture of Padua Comes to Wikipedia

View of Padua showing its successive rings of city walls, 1623.

A Wikimedia training programme linked to the post-classical archaeology course at the University of Padua has successfully concluded, involving 29 students under the supervision of Professor Alejandra Chavarría Arnau and Wikimedia tutor Marco Chemello.

After introductory sessions on Wikipedia's pillars, copyright, and sourcing, students worked in small groups to research, draft, and improve articles about Padua's medieval architectural heritage. Their contributions were reviewed before being published on Wikipedia.

The project resulted in the creation of 6 new articles and the expansion of 9 existing ones, covering medieval palaces, churches, towers, gates, and other historic buildings in Padua. Students also uploaded more than 100 photographs and historical images to Wikimedia Commons, helping to document the city's architectural heritage.

Beyond improving Wikimedia projects, the initiative gave students the opportunity to share academic research with a wider public, demonstrating how universities can contribute to open knowledge while supporting public access to cultural heritage.


Ukraine Through Wikimedia: Exhibition and Writing Contest

This spring, a series of Wikimedia initiatives highlighted Ukraine's cultural heritage, combining online participation with public outreach.

The photographic exhibition Wounded but Resilient: Ukraine in Photos was first presented in Trento, later in Bergamo and then moved to Milan. Organized by Wikimedia volunteers in collaboration with Wikimedia Ukraine, the association Ucraina Più – Milan, and other local Ukrainian associations, the exhibition features photographs from the Wiki Loves Monuments, Wiki Loves Earth, and Wiki Loves Folklore competitions, documenting Ukraine's landscapes, monuments, traditions, and the impact of the ongoing war on its cultural and natural heritage. The Milan edition of the exhibition was hosted at ARCI Provinciale and benefited from the patronage of the Consulate General of Ukraine in Milan and ARCI.

To accompany the Milan exhibition, a two-week writing contest invited contributors to create and improve Wikipedia articles about Ukraine and Ukrainian culture. The initiative involved 28 participants, who created or substantially expanded 213 articles covering a wide range of topics related to the country's history, culture, and heritage.

Supported by Wikimedia Ukraine and Wikimedia Italia, these initiatives demonstrate how Wikimedia projects can help preserve and share knowledge about cultural heritage while bringing together volunteers, cultural organizations, and local communities.


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