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On 14 February 2013, at 12.00 am, at the Ministry of Heritage and Cultural Activities of the Italian Republic, there was signed the Memorandum of Understanding between the Governorate of Vatican City and the Ministry of Heritage and Cultural Activities of the Italian Republic for the use of Passetto di Borgo and Torrino di Avvistamento.
The signataries: for the Holy See, His Eminence Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello, President of the Governorate of Vatican City State and, for the Italian Republic, Prof. Lorenzo Ornaghi, Minister for Arts and Culture.
Attending the solemn act were:
for the Vatican City State, His Excellency Mons. Giuseppe Sciacca, Secretary General of the Governorate of Vatican City; Mons. Carlo Alberto Capella, Secretary of the Nunciature for the Section for Relations with States of the Secretariat of State and the attorney Cav. Carlo Carrieri, Head of the Legal Office of the Governorate of the Vatican City State. Also present were Prof. Antonio Paolucci, Director of the Vatican Museums, and Mons. Paul Nicolini, Director of the Administrative and Management Sectors of the Vatican Museums;
on behalf of the Italian Republic, Dr. Adriano Rasi Caldogno, Head of Cabinet of the Ministry of Heritage and Culture; Dr. Paolo Carpentieri, Head of the Legislative Bureau, and the architect Federica Galloni, Regional Director for Cultural and Landscape Heritage of Lazio.
The Memorandum of Understanding – developing the exchange of letters of 1991 between Italy and the Holy See regarding the ownership and the use of “Passetto di Borgo” (an elevated passage linking the Vatican City with Castel Sant’Angelo) and considering a common interest in a partnership for the purpose of protecting and enhancing this historical and artistic heritage site – defines the use of the “Torrino di Avvistamento” (the lookout corridor atop the passage) in order to allow the public to use the monument’s interior and exterior walkways, also with a view to equipping the structure with adequate facilities for persons with disabilities.
The agreement is part of a major project of restoration and enhancement of the “Passetto di Borgo” by the Ministry of National Heritage and Cultural Affairs of the Italian Republic, in order to allow the reopening to the public of the prestigious walkway, with access from the National Museum of Castel Sant’Angelo.
The Memorandum of Understanding, which consists of a preamble and eight articles, entered into force on the day of signing.
