On November 12, 2024, the second Listening Marathon was held at the Real Albergo dei Poveri, an important moment of dialogue and discussion between local associations and the Technical-Scientific Committee for the drafting of the new UNESCO Management Plan for the Historic Center of Naples.

The meeting, divided into three phases, saw significant participation from active citizens. The proceedings were opened by an initial plenary session dedicated to the presentation of the first concrete results of the initiatives launched by the Administration, followed by working groups. “userFormat1”>first concrete results of the initiatives launched by the Administration, followed by thematic working groups and concluded by a summary plenary session.

The discussion was divided into five thematic working groups, aligned with the macro-areas of the Management Plan: Monumental and Urban Heritage, with a focus on the protection and enhancement of cultural heritage; Environment and Urban Decorum, focusing on the management of public green spaces and the quality of urban spaces; Safety, Mobility, and Tourism, dedicated to the sustainable management of traffic and tourist flows; Education and Social Policies, aimed at supporting young people and the most vulnerable groups; Cultural Activities and Participatory Pathways, focused on integrated cultural programming and the process of participatory democracy itself.

The plenary sessions were chaired by the Chief of Staff and UNESCO Site Manager Maria Grazia Falciatore, together with the Deputy Mayor and Councilor for Urban Planning Laura Lieto, the Councilor for Municipal Police and Legality Antonio De Iesu, and members of the Technical-Scientific Committee Alessandro Castagnaro and Gennaro Rispoli.

As in the first meeting, the methodology included real-time visualization tools to facilitate the synthesis of the debate and live painting to graphically translate the reflections that emerged into a work representing the shared vision of a renewed city: from spaces for young people to well-maintained green areas, from cycle paths to quality commercial offerings.

The experience confirmed the effectiveness of the participatory process initiated by the Administration, which will continue in the coming months with new opportunities for discussion and co-design, with a view to increasingly shared governance of the UNESCO site.