Following the exhibition ‘Città Murate e Centri Fortificati del Veneto’ (lit. ‘Walled Cities and Fortified Towns of Veneto’), which was held in Marostica on 15–16 October 1988, the Regional Council of Italia Nostra, together with the Veneto Region, spent many years working to establish the Association of the Walled Cities of Veneto, which was founded in 1997. Today, the Association comprises 34 member cities, with many more expressing interest in joining, reflecting the growing international recognition and enthusiasm surrounding its activities.

The initial objectives were to focus the attention of citizens and public administrations on fundamental testimonies of our past from the 10th to the 14th centuries and invite scholars and experts to discuss methodologies for investigating, restoring and enhancing the city walls. Even today, a scientific committee ensures and guides these objectives.

During these long years of partnership, many initiatives and restoration projects have been carried out by local governments, including the restoration of intact sections of city walls, the reconstruction of significant parts of them, and the restoration of outlines imprinted in the urban fabric.

The cultural heritage of the Walled Cities of Veneto is undeniably a collection of resources inherited from the past. The Veneto Region safeguards these resources in order to preserve them and transmit them to future generations (Convention on the Value of Cultural Heritage for Society, Faro 27 October 2005).

Thus, the Walled Cities are not only historical and cultural assets, but also environmental assets — both tangible and intangible — and assets of widespread interest, around which a community can form that is actively engaged in their maintenance and management. These assets characterise a specific territory: the Veneto region.