Abstract

In spite of the richness of the Country's cultural heritage, in Italy the number of visitors to museums and archeological sites and the profits derived from the "additional services" (e.g. bookshops, bars, restaurants) are relatively low. Donations and sponsorships from the Private sector are also limited in comparison with other European countries. After analyzing the economic rationale for Public intervention in the cultural heritage, the paper describes the Italian regulation on the involvement of the Private sector (firms and not-for-profit entities) in the management and funding of the cultural sites and identifies some critical aspects that emerge from comparative analyses with France, Germany and Spain. It is thereby argued that the involvement of Private Sector in Italy is limited by: i) the absence of a clear identification of the applicable rules, due to the unsatisfactory quality of the relevant legislation; ii) the exclusion on grounds of legislative decree n. 42/2004 of firms from taking part to the design and development of plans and programs concerning the use of public cultural heritage; iii) some inefficiencies in the governance of cultural foundations.