Convegno ed Escursione Preistorica - Grotta Paglicci, bene dell'Umanità.

Here is the translation of the Italian text to English:

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**Unitary Conference on Grotta Paglicci as a Heritage of Humanity and Prehistoric Excursion.**

On May 23, 2026, Rignano Garganico (FG) will once again become the center of the prehistoric world. With the Unitary Conference "Grotta Paglicci – Heritage of Humanity," a new season of revitalization for one of the most important archaeological sites in Europe officially begins. There is no scientific ambition here, but rather the necessity to consistently bring attention back to the Paleolithic site located in the countryside of Rignano Garganico.

The event is sponsored by the Presidency of the Puglia Region, the Municipality of Rignano Garganico, the Gargano National Park, the Province of Foggia, the Gargano GAL, the BCC of San Giovanni Rotondo, and various private organizations.

The goal is ambitious yet necessary: to support Grotta Paglicci's candidacy for UNESCO World Heritage status, a pathway strongly desired by the Puglia Region to protect and enhance a treasure that belongs to the deep history of humanity.

"With the support of the Public Administration of Rignano Garganico and the local public and private entities, we can talk forcefully again about Grotta Paglicci, a site that must absolutely be recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. Three human species lived here: Erectus, Neanderthal, and Sapiens. As evidenced by the scientific research from the University of Siena and archaeologist Arturo Palma di Cesnola, humans have lived here for about 500,000 years, leaving us a unique artistic, instrumental, and magical-religious heritage in the world. We now also know that the Cave, known for harboring the hidden treasures of the 19th-century brigand Gabriele Galardi, was likely more extensive than it is today, as recalled in the writings and preserved in the archives by Cesnola himself, journalist Tonino Del Vecchio, and expert speleologist Silvio Orlando. Thus, it is absolutely necessary to secure it and restart scientific excavations," explains Angelo Riky Del Vecchio, president of the Giulio Ricci Cultural Circle of Rignano Garganico.

**A treasure of 45,000 artifacts.**
We are not talking about a simple archaeological site, but a true archive of human life. The Grotta Paglicci deposit has yielded over 45,000 artifacts, covering an impressive time span: from 500,000 to 11,000 years ago.

Inside its walls, unique evidence has been found:

- **Cave paintings and rock engravings:** among the oldest and most significant in Italy.
- **Human remains:** including the famous "Woman of Paglicci."
- **Stone and bone tools:** telling the story of technological and cultural evolution in the Paleolithic.

**The event on May 23: the “first launch” and the need to reopen the Museum.**
The conference, born from an idea of the Giulio Ricci Cultural Circle and the Jalarde Prize, in collaboration with the T.A.L.I.A. Association, the Rignano Archeo Speleo Club, and the Agora of Ideas, represents the starting point for a new narrative of the territory.

"The Museum of Grotta Paglicci must be reopened; requests for guided tours and direct knowledge of the Paleolithic artifacts from the cave are increasing day by day. For this reason, we ask those in charge to expedite the completion of the works, the inauguration, and the management assignment of the site. T.A.L.I.A. was the last association to manage the facility prior to its closure due to museum expansion works, and it did so impeccably, bearing direct witness to the interest from the scientific, cultural, and educational worlds towards this heritage of humanity," adds Mariagrazia Urbano, president of the T.A.L.I.A. association.

**The Program of the Day.**
The day will be divided into two fundamental moments to combine field experience and scientific exploration:

**Time** | **Activity** | **Description**
09:00 – 13:00 | Excursion | An immersion in the Gargano landscape to touch history firsthand.
17:00 – 20:00 | Cultural Event | Institutional conference, auditorium of the former municipal gym of Rignano Garganico.

**THE PROGRAM.**
Rignano Garganico, May 23, 2026

**Auditorium Ex-Palestra Comunale – Via Genova – 5:00 PM**

**Moderated by:** Enrico Ciccarelli, journalist
**Guest appearances in the hall:** Pasquale Gatta and Angelo Riky Del Vecchio, journalists

**FIRST PART**

17:00 > Greetings from Mayor Luigi Di Fiore, Cultural Councillor Antonio Aniceto, and present authorities;
17:15 > Greetings from the President of the Puglia Region, Antonio Decaro
17:30 > Greetings from the Regional Tourism Councillor, Graziamaria Starace
17:50 > Greetings from Michele Caruso, CEO of Converteo Italia
18:00 > Introduction of the works by Angelo Riky Del Vecchio, journalist and president of the Giulio Ricci Cultural Circle
18:10 > Grotta Paglicci among UNESCO Cultural Heritage – Pasquale Gatta, journalist
18:20 > Introduction by Mariagrazia Urbano, president of the Talia Association
18:30 > Creation of an economic impact related to Grotta Paglicci – Donato Pio Palumbo, president of Pro Loco Rignano
18:40 > The Experimental Archaeology Laboratory – Enzo Pazienza, president of the Paglicci Study Center

**SECOND PART**

18:50 > The Art of the People of Grotta Paglicci, artistic cathedral of humanity – Antonietta Delle Fave, teacher and sector expert
19:00 > Artistic representations and prehistoric human life along the first step of Gargano – Severino Stea, teacher and sector expert
19:10 > Grotta Paglicci and the cave of wonders: what if it were more extensive than we know? – Silvio Orlando, President of the Rignano Archeo Speleo Club
19:30 > The discovery of Grotta Paglicci, the archaeologists from Verona, Florence, Siena, and the gold of the brigand Gabriele Galardi – Gabriele Falcone, writer and nephew of Jalarde
19:40 > Conclusions by Del Vecchio, Urbano, and Orlando
19:50 > Closing remarks by Gatta and Ciccarelli

**THIRD PART**

20:00 > Musical performance by the Red Diamonds
There will be paintings and sculptures by local artists inspired by Rignano Garganico and Grotta Paglicci displayed in the auditorium.

Experts in the field, archaeologists, journalists, and speleologists will participate.

**Learn more**
Regional parks and gardens
Beaches and islands
Geology
Note: the program is continuously updated. For all technical details and the latest updates, you can visit the official website: www.grottapaglicci.it.

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**Why UNESCO?**

Recognition as a Heritage of Humanity (even in its immaterial dimension for the techniques and knowledge passed down) is not just an honorary title. It is the necessary tool to ensure that this heritage does not remain confined to specialists but becomes a driver of tourism, cultural, and economic development for the entire Gargano area and Puglia.

The request for sponsorship from the highest institutional bodies—from the Ministry of Culture to the Gargano National Park, and up to the UniFG and UniSI universities—underscores the unity of the scientific, cultural, and political world around this mission.

**Join the revitalization.**
The future of Grotta Paglicci also depends on our awareness. Mark your calendars for May 23, 2026: it is time to restore the "Cave of Dreams" to the place it deserves in world history.

For the conference program:
https://www.grottapaglicci.it/convegno-nazionale-su-grotta-paglicci-bene-dellumanita/#google_vignette

To book the Excursion:
https://www.rignanonews.com/2026/05/06/grotta-paglicci-escursione-tra-i-tesori-preistorici-di-rignano-garganico-23-maggio-2026-ecco-come-prenotarsi/

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Web: www.grottapaglicci.it