The Royal Commission for AlUla and the Italian town of Matera have signed a twinning agreement aimed at safeguarding and promoting their cultural heritage. The signing ceremony took place at Sassi di Matera, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the south of the country.
Under the new agreement, the Royal Commission for AlUla and Matera will collaborate through cultural exchanges, joint initiatives and the sharing of knowledge in areas such as cultural preservation, education, the economy and social development.
This twinning programme is part of a wider agreement between AlUla and Italy. Other initiatives include a five-day cultural gathering at Rome's Villa Borghese in September and a partnership with the 'Cortona on the Move' photo exhibition at the AlUla Arts Festival. At the same time, young Saudis are receiving training in heritage conservation at the Centro Conservazione e Restauro La Venaria Reale, near Turin.