A marketplace of digital objects that replicates the greatest Italian works of art into unique collector’s items: it is Italian Wonders, an initiative supported by Algorand, the blockchain company founded by Silvio Micali.
The initiative aims to support Italy’s cultural heritage, which has been severely tested by the Coronavirus crisis that has led to the lockdown of Italy, the closure of museums and sites of cultural interest, and the cancellation of transport services to and from the Bel Paese. A deadly blow for tourism and for that part of the economy that relies on the unique beauty that only Italy can boast with its immense historical and artistic tradition.
In order to face this crisis, Italian Wonders was born, a project by BlockchainItalia, Federazione Lavoratori Pubblici e Funzioni Pubbliche (FLP) and Italia4Blockchain with the technological support of Algorand, which contributed to the creation of digital tokens based on the Ethereum and Algorand blockchains. On the Italian Wonders website, it is possible to buy these works of art in the digital stamp version for a modest contribution.
Some examples: the basilica of San Nicola di Bari costs 5 euros, the Colosseum costs 50 euros.
Italian Wonders: the blockchain as a bridge to art
The website also illustrates the project and the mission of supporting Italian works of art. Moreover, there is a section dedicated to the explanation of what non-fungible tokens are and what it means to “tokenize a work of art”.
The initiative aims to act as a bridge between works of art and the blockchain.
Pietro Azzara, founder and CEO of Blockchain Italia srl, explains:
“I gladly take up the words of Carlo Fuortes, superintendent of the Rome Opera House: the cultural sector is weak against the credit system. Blockchain and Fintech can intervene to support it. We are confident in the cooperation with the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and with public and private cultural institutions”.
Pietro Grassano, Business Solutions Director – Europe of Algorand, adds:
“We are happy to technologically support the Italian Wonders project. Algorand’s mission is to create an inclusive system that can help build a decentralized and frictionless economy on the blockchain. In this delicate phase, trying to help Italy rediscover its most authentic and profound DNA seems useful and necessary”.
