Abstract

Intangible cultural heritage is safeguarded by Italian law only to the extent that it is linked to a tangible element. However, along the time, the process of globalization of cultural heritage and the progressively growing influence of international law has led to a formal distinction between tangible and intangible cultural heritage, so as to determine the need for a specific legal regulation of the latter as a separate and distinct category of cultural heritage. The present contribution has the purpose of investigating the peculiar perspectives of safeguarding and valorization of intangible cultural heritage, distinguished from those concerning cultural heritage as a whole, emphasizing the role to be played by the Ministry of cultural goods and activities and tourism in connection with territorial bodies and private persons.