Within the framework of cultural cooperation between the Italian Republic and the Republic of Armenia, and under the patronage of the Embassy of Italy in Armenia, a workshop was held on March 4 at the History Museum of Armenia, dedicated to discussing the historical and archaeological significance of ARUCH, as well as the prospects for its restoration, musealization, and enhancement within the framework of Italian-Armenian cooperation.

Opening remarks were delivered by the workshop chair and organizer, Project Coordinator of ARC-HE-TOUR-DEV for Aruch, Vice-President of ISMEO and Co-Director of the Aruch excavations Sergio Ferdinandi; Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of the Republic of Armenia Alfred Kocharyan; H.E. Alessandro Ferranti, Ambassador of Italy to Armenia; Director of the History Museum of Armenia Davit Poghosyan; Director of the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of the NAS RA Arsen Bobokhyan; and Head of the Department of Medieval Art Studies at the Matenadaran, PhD in Art History Nazeni Gharibyan.

Concluding remarks: Dr. Harutyun Vanyan, Head of the Department for Preservation of Historical and Cultural Monuments, Ministry of ESCS.

HIGHLIGHTS

Dr. Astghik Babajanyan (Co-Director of the Aruch Excavations for IAE NAS RA, ARUCH 2022-2026)

“Five Years of Scientific Cooperation and Joint Excavations between IAE NAS RA and ISMEO”

Prof. Daniele Sansoni (Tor Vergata University of Rome – Department of Civil Engineering and Computer Science)

“The Medieval Fortress of Aruch: Presentation of Restoration Project Within the Framework of Italo-Armenian Cooporation”

Dr. Antonio Mesisca (Ceo of “Archeoservizi”)

” The Promotion And Enhancement of the Urban Archaeological Park, Solutions Adopted Internationally and in Italy”

Prof. Giuseppina Cinque (Tor Vergata University of Rome – Department of Civil Engineering and Computer Science)

“Continuation of the Cooperation Project: Preliminary Architectural Survey Studies on the Basilica of St. Gregory in Aruch Towards Informed Restoration Planning”

The workshop was not merely a moment for presenting findings and projects but an affirmation of a broader cultural direction: that heritage, when studied rigorously, preserved responsibly, and communicated clearly, becomes a living resource for dialogue among peoples, for the transmission of memory, and for the construction of the future.

The History Museum of Armenia highly values the long-standing cooperation with the organizing partners of the workshop.