On 19 November 2025, the Protomoteca Hall on the Capitoline Hill hosted the event “Giulio Carlo Argan and his vision of Rome”, organised by the Vittorio Occorsio Foundation as part of the 2025 Civil Virtue Day. The initiative brought together institutions, scholars and academics, along with more than 250 students from Roman high schools, to reflect on the cultural and civic legacy of one of Italy’s most influential art historians and critics, who served as Mayor of Rome from 1976 to 1979.
The event was promoted in collaboration with the Giorgio Ambrosoli Civic Association and the National Biodiversity Centre – National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), within the framework of the project “Justice Adopts the School”.
A central role in the day’s programme was played by the CNR – Institute of Research on Terrestrial Ecosystems (IRET), represented by its Director Carlo Calfapietra, who was invited to speak on the importance of urban biodiversity as a key element in improving civil quality of life in contemporary cities.
In his address, Calfapietra highlighted how ecological and urban research—areas in which CNR IRET is a national and international point of reference—can provide concrete tools to foster more resilient, inclusive and sustainable cities. He emphasised the need to integrate nature-based approaches into urban planning, promoting strategies capable of enhancing citizens’ well-being, strengthening social cohesion and mitigating the effects of climate change.
The event offered an important opportunity for dialogue among culture, social sciences and urban ecology, underscoring the role of CNR IRET in promoting a vision of cities that are fairer, greener and more attentive to the well-being of their inhabitants.
