Roundup: Italy sees record year for cultural attractions despite conservation worries

At first glance, 2015 appears to be one of the best on record for Italian cultural sites. But a deeper look reveals that the riches one of the world's cultural bedrocks faces a variety of threats that leaves them more vulnerable than at any time in recent memory.

With 51 World Heritage Sites as identified by UNESCO, Italy has more than any other nation, followed by China.

Tens of thousands of Italian museums and other cultural sites are attracting record numbers. Italy's Ministry of Culture reported that in 2015 cultural attractions were visited by more than 43 million people, taking in 155 million euros (169 million U.S. dollars) in ticket revenue. Both figures are record highs.

Rome's Coliseum attracted the most visitors last year, followed by the ruins of Pompeii near Naples, and the Uffizi Gallery in Florence.

But as the lines for the countries cultural attractions grow longer, the list of risks they face lengthens as well. Environmental experts have said that unchecked vehicle traffic and uneven enforcement of industrial anti-pollution laws have resulted in growing levels of smog that include toxins that can eat away at marble and destabilize metal.

Additionally, foreign extremist groups have threatened to strike Italy, and security experts worry that an attack against an iconic cultural site could help achieve terror aims.

The growing number of visitors represents a problem, as well, according to Maria Chiara Piva, an expert on history and restoration theory at Venice's Ca'Foscari University, increasing stress on the collections and infrastructure of the country's museums and on the integrity of the walkways and walls of ancient sites.

"It's clear that most Italian cultural sites are more fragile now than they were 20 years ago," Piva told Xinhua.

The biggest need, according to Piva and other experts, is money: years of government cutbacks have reduced cash available for maintenance and upkeep. Some of the slack has been taken up by private sources. Billionaire leather goods magnate Diego Della Valle, for example, is financing an ambitious restoration of the Coliseum -- but it is not enough.

Elisabetta Pallottino, an expert on ancient architecture with Roma Tre University, said a lack of maintenance efforts over decades has increased the risk of seismic and water damage to the point that she says they are the top threat to many sites.

"The lack of money has been a problem for many years, but with the worldwide economic crisis the situation has worsened at the exact time spending is needed most," Pallottino said in an interview.

Last year, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said other countries within the European Union and beyond should help Italy pay for the maintenance of cultural sites, pointing out that the country's over-abundance of cultural riches is part of the world's patrimony, not just Italy's.

Piva said that argument makes sense, but pointed out that in addition to more cash the state also needs better strategies for improving its lot. She said it would be possible to do more with the funding already available.

"An argument could be made for asking for financial help from outside Italy," Piva said. "But first, I think we have to show we know how to use resources effectively." Endit