About us

We highlight the diverse disciplinary aspects of cultural heritage, develop competitive professionals and promote knowledge of and protection for cultural and intangible heritage.

Our department promotes inter- and transdisciplinary dialogue for the integrated study of tangible and intangible cultural heritage and the various forms of interaction between human activities, historical memory and the environmental context.

In line with the latest trends in international research, it fosters synergy between academic disciplines in the humanities and the scientific and technological sectors. Through this multidimensional approach, and across three levels of education, it shapes competitive professionals, equipping them with cutting-edge knowledge and methodologies to work in the field of cultural heritage, understood in its many facets.

The DBC is the only Department on the Ravenna Campus. Partly by virtue of this location, it serves as a hub for bringing together diverse competencies around the holistic study of cultural heritage in the broadest sense.

Those conducting research at the DBC work in the fields of art history, archaeology, library and archival science, musicology, bioanthropology, physical and chemical sciences, and landscape studies, in harmony with the content and methods of historical, philological and literary, political science, sociological, and demo-ethno-anthropological disciplines. In line with the objective of fostering knowledge, conservation and promotion of cultural heritage, we encourage collaborative projects and educational links with the local branches of the University’s other Departments (U.O.S.) based in Ravenna.

International dimension

Thanks to international collaborations, projects and activities, the Department strengthens the quality of its teaching and research, fostering the exchange of ideas, expertise and experiences from different contexts.Check our international degree and postgraduate programmes

Research spanning a wide range of fields

The department’s research activity is a reflection of its distinctive interdisciplinary focus. What sets us apart is our ability to foster dialogue and interaction between different areas of expertise and cultural perspectives: researchers from different fields collaborate to develop projects aimed at the study, conservation and promotion of cultural heritage.Explore our research

A wide-ranging and high-quality programme catalogue

Our programme catalogue highlights the close links with the research areas pursued by our leading academics, whilst also helping students to acquire practical skills through their involvement in the activities of our many research laboratories. Discover the department’s programme catalogue

Our commitment to society and collaboration with organisations and businesses

We promote initiatives to disseminate scientific knowledge and are committed to continually strengthening our social impact in the broad field of cultural heritage by actively collaborating with research organisations, educational institutes, companies and businesses at local, national and international levels.Find out more

Get to know the department

The Department of Cultural Heritage was established on 16 October 2012 in accordance with the new statutes of the University of Bologna and the new overall organisational structure resulting from the university reform. At the University of Bologna’s Ravenna branch, the tradition of studies in the field of cultural heritage began to take root with the Specialised School for Archivists (1989/90–1992/93), followed by the Degree Programme in Conservation of Cultural Heritage at the Faculty of Arts and Philosophy (1992/93–1996–1997), and was consolidated with the establishment of the Faculty of Conservation of Cultural Heritage (1996/7–2011/12) and the Department of History and Methods for the Conservation of Cultural Heritage (1998–2012). The current Head of Department is Anna Chiara Fariselli, who has held the post since 3 May 2024. Previous heads include Luigi Canetti (in post from 2018 to 2024) and Luigi Tomassini (in post from 2015 to 2018) and Angelo Pompilio (in post from 2013-2015).

Find out about opportunities to work with us in academia, research, technical roles, administration, IT, librarianship and more.

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  • Strategy and Quality

    A strategy that places quality at the heart of our activities: clear objectives, constant Monitoring of results achieved, and measures to drive improvement.