On 29 June, the reissued edition of Li Prati del Monasterio di Chiaravalle was presented at the Ambrosianeum in Milan. Originally written in 1578, this remarkable manuscript provides a unique account of the agricultural landscape of the Valle dei Monaci (Valley of the Monks) and of the historical organization of the territory surrounding the Abbey of Chiaravalle.

Organised by BIA and promoted by Municipio 5 of the City of Milan, the event brought together institutions, scholars, cultural heritage professionals and members of the public. The meeting highlighted how understanding the past is an essential step in shaping the future of the territory and supporting the UNESCO nomination process.

The event opened with institutional greetings from Natale Carapellese, President of Municipio 5, Tommaso Sacchi, Councillor for Culture of the City of Milan, Father Stefano Zanolini, Abbot of Chiaravalle Abbey, Caterina Misiti, President of the Culture Commission of Municipio 5, Stefano Bianco, President of Municipio 4, and Giacomo Perego, Councillor of Municipio 4.

Their contributions highlighted the cultural and historical significance of the Valle dei Monaci, emphasising the importance of initiatives that make knowledge of the area’s heritage increasingly accessible to the wider public.

The second part of the event, moderated by Natale Carapellese, explored the historical, scientific and cultural significance of the publication.

Andrea L’Erario, from the Politecnico di Milano and editor of the new edition, illustrated the research carried out to bring new life to a manuscript that represents a fundamental source for understanding the history of the territory.

Luisa Chiappa Mauri, from the University of Milan, together with Giuliana Fantoni, described the complex process of transcribing and annotating the manuscript, highlighting the importance of historical sources in reconstructing the agricultural landscape of Chiaravalle.

Paola Branduini, from the Politecnico di Milano, focused on the historic marcite (water meadows) of Chiaravalle and its traditional irrigation systems, demonstrating how this heritage continues to offer valuable insights into environmental sustainability and landscape management.

The event concluded with a presentation by Angelo Boscarino and Giovanni Venegoni, who illustrated the UNESCO nomination process for the Valle dei Monaci and the Abbey of Chiaravalle. BIA coordinated the preliminary feasibility study for the nomination in collaboration with Bocconi University.

Their presentation underlined that obtaining UNESCO recognition is a complex, long-term process requiring scientific research, heritage conservation, institutional cooperation and active community participation.