May 27 – 29, 2026 • Ercolano – Naples
On Thursday, May 28, 2026, the Herculaneum Archaeological Park will host one of the sessions of the training course “The Civil and Criminal Protection of Cultural Heritage” (Code P26032), organized by the Scuola Superiore della Magistratura. The three-day event, held between May 27 and 29, represents a key opportunity for magistrates and legal practitioners to gain in-depth, multidisciplinary knowledge on the legal protection of Italy’s cultural heritage.
The choice of the Herculaneum Archaeological Park as the training venue is no coincidence: the site, one of the most extraordinary in the world for its state of conservation and scientific importance, becomes a truly immersive experiential laboratory. With the help of archaeologists and specialized staff from the Park, participants will be able to experience the concrete reality of protecting cultural and archaeological heritage, experiencing firsthand the challenges and responsibilities it entails in legal, investigative, and conservation terms.
Herculaneum is not just a site to visit, it is a place where law and history intersect every day. Hosting the Study Days of the Scuola Superiore della Magistratura means putting our heritage at the service of the education of those charged with protecting it: a concrete dialogue between those who preserve cultural heritage and those who legally protect it. We are honored to contribute to this important initiative.
Federica Colaiacomo, Director of the Archaeological Park of Herculaneum
On the morning of May 28th, after a welcome by the Park Director, a guided tour of the site and the Antiquarium will be held. This will be followed by a presentation by General Antonio Petti, Commander of the Carabinieri for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, on the role of the Carabinieri’s Specialized Units in combating the illicit trafficking of archaeological finds and works of art.
The course addresses the most current issues in cultural heritage law from a scientific and practical perspective: from the crimes introduced by Law No. 22/2022 (“Provisions on Crimes against Cultural Heritage”) to civil issues related to transfers and adverse possession; from the protection of AI-generated art to street art; from international trafficking of artifacts to the new frontiers of intellectual property. Speakers include university professors, members of the Supreme Court of Cassation, and representatives of Eurojust and the Carabinieri.
The days will take place in locations of great symbolic value: the G. Filangieri Civic Museum and Castel Capuano in Naples, the Archaeological Park of Herculaneum and the MAV – Virtual Archaeological Museum, where at the end of the works on May 28th it will be possible to watch a 5D projection of the eruption of 79 AD that destroyed the city of Herculaneum.
Park Session Program – Thursday, May 28
| 9.00 | Session Presentation — Welcome by the Director of the Herculaneum Archaeological Park |
| 9.15 | Guided tour of the Herculaneum Archaeological Park and the Antiquarium |
| 12.00 | The role of the Carabinieri Specialized Units in protecting cultural heritage and combating trafficking in archaeological finds and works of art General Antonio Petti, Commander of the Carabinieri for the Protection of Cultural Heritage |
| 12.45 | Debate |
Course leaders
Dr. Gian Andrea Chiesi, Dr. Loredana Nazzicone, Attorney Pier Lorenzo Parenti, Dr. Fabio Di Vizio. Expert trainer: Dr. Armando Bosso, Deputy Public Prosecutor at the Court of Santa Maria Capua Vetere.
Note to editors
La Scuola Superiore della Magistratura (SSM) è l’istituzione italiana responsabile della formazione professionale dei magistrati. Il corso P26032 si inserisce in un percorso formativo di alta specializzazione su una materia di crescente rilevanza: l’Italia conta oltre 4.000 musei attivi e il maggior numero al mondo di siti UNESCO (55 patrimoni dell’umanità), rendendo cruciale una preparazione giuridica specifica per chi è chiamato a tutelarne l’integrità.
The course is divided into three days: May 27 (G. Filangieri Civic Museum, Naples), May 28 (Ercolano Archaeological Park and MAV), May 29 (Castel Capuano, Naples).