With the collaboration and support of the Dioceses of Piedmont and the Aosta Valley, the Piedmont Region, the Autonomous Region of Aosta Valley, and the relevant Heritage Superintendencies, the “Cities and Cathedrals” project has been supporting the restoration and enhancement of the ecclesiastical historical and artistic heritage of the Cathedrals and Diocesan Museums of the two regions since 2005.
The project’s first phase (2005–2012) focused on the restoration and recovery of Cathedrals and Diocesan Museums. A second phase (2013–2025), carried out in partnership with the Regional Council for Ecclesiastical Cultural Heritage of Piedmont and the Aosta Valley, concentrated on the enhancement and integration of ecclesiastical cultural heritage into a coordinated cultural system.
With the aim of making this heritage more accessible to residents, pilgrims, and tourists, the “Open Churches” project was launched in 2018 as a spin-off of Cities and Cathedrals. This innovative initiative—unique in Europe—has transformed the way ecclesiastical cultural heritage is experienced and presented through a free smartphone-based access system. Conceived by Fondazione CRT and the Regional Council for Ecclesiastical Cultural Heritage of Piedmont and the Aosta Valley, the project allows visitors to independently access and explore small churches, chapels, and ecclesiastical heritage sites through a dedicated app. These sites would otherwise remain closed due to the absence of permanent on-site staff.
The technology is effective and easy to use. Through the “Open Churches” app, visitors book the site they wish to visit. Upon arrival, they simply scan a QR code with their smartphone, and the church door opens automatically. Once inside, an automated multimedia system guides the visit with narrated content (available in multiple languages), background music, and directional lighting that highlights artistic details and key works of art.
Seven years after its launch, more than 70 heritage sites are equipped with the technology and are organized into six visitor itineraries across Piedmont and the Aosta Valley.
Growing interest in the opportunities offered by the Open Churches system—initially funded by Fondazione CRT and the organizations owning the heritage sites—has attracted additional co-financing, including support from the Piedmont Region. This has enabled the project to expand both geographically and conceptually: from a regional initiative to a national one, with two sites already active in Lazio and new openings planned in Lombardy and Puglia. The project has also been extended to include non-religious public heritage assets, such as the civic towers of Castellino and Camerana, evolving from “Open Churches” into “Open Heritage” (Cultura a Porte Aperte).
