Iraq has paid a high price for decades of conflict: its social fabric is fragmented, and many families live in extreme poverty.
Yet the country—and its capital, Baghdad—boasts a rich cultural and artistic heritage, the legacy of an ancient history. The Abbasid Palace, the Abu Hanifa Mosque, and over 10,000 archaeological sites—many still unexplored—are just some of the landmarks that enrich the territory and represent potential attractions for international visitors, as well as a valuable resource for the local economy.
To enhance this heritage, the Italian Universities of Bologna and Catania and the Archaeological Research and Excavation Center of Turin (CRAST) have launched the project “ArTourBagh – Archaeological heritage and sustainable cultural tourism in Baghdad”, with AVSI as a partner.
Supported by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, the project aims to highlight the beauty of the capital, promote it to new international tourists under safe conditions, and contribute to the revitalization of the local economy.
To achieve this, an association of at least 30 restoration experts will be established. Craftspeople skilled in working with raw bricks—the same materials used in the original construction of historic buildings—will be selected to ensure that all restoration work follows traditional building methods.
As part of the same project, a consortium of travel agencies will be formed to develop five tourist packages featuring routes that showcase Baghdad’s cultural heritage and nearby archaeological sites.
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