Today the Ambassador of Italy to Lebanon, Nicoletta Bombardiere, together with the Lebanese Minister of Culture, Abbas Mortada, inaugurated the Castle of Shamaa in southern Lebanon in the presence of the Deputies of the District of Tyre, the Mayor of Shamaa, Abdel Kader Safieddine, the Director General of Antiquities, Sarkis Khoury, the representative of the President of the Council for Reconstruction and Development, Wafa Charafeddine, the Director of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) – Beirut Office, Donatella Procesi, the Commander of Sector West, Gen. Davide Scalabrin, and of the Commander of the Italian Bilateral Military Mission, Gen. Marcello Orsi.
The restoration works of the historic citadel and its fortified area, started in 2015 and carried out by the Council for Reconstruction and Development, were financed with a donation from the Italian Government of 700,000 euros through the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation ( AICS) – Beirut office. The recently completed works allowed the restoration and consolidation of the remaining structures, through the study of construction techniques and the creation of various archaeological research sites. In order to ensure usability and visitors’ safety, various paths have been created on the vestiges, including the installation of metal walkways.
The Castle of Shamaa and its millenary walls bear witness to the history of Lebanon, a history that has always been intertwined with the Italian one. It is handed over again to Lebanese authorities on a highly symbolic date, June 2, the day on which Italy celebrates its National Day.
Lebanon and Italy continue to cooperate positively in various sectors. The common commitment to the protection and valorization of cultural heritage does not aim only at safeguarding a wealth that is unique in the world, but also at triggering virtuous processes of sustainable socio-economic development. With today’s event, Italy intends to reiterate that preservation, restoration and promotion of cultural heritage, in Lebanon as everywhere, are not a luxury for the few, but an essential value for the growth and prosperity of the entire country.