Heydar Aliyev Foundation awarded the Laurentum Special Prize
On 16 December 2025, the 39th Laurentum Art Awards Ceremony was held in Rome, at Palazzo Montecitorio, the seat of the Italian Chamber of Deputies.
The opening ceremony was attended by Speaker of the Italian Chamber of Deputies Lorenzo Fontana, RAI Director-General and Head of the Award Roberto Sergio, Chairman of the Jury Gianni Letta, and President of the Chamber’s Culture Committee Federico Mollicone.
Within the framework of the ceremony, the Laurentum Special Prize for “Cultural Heritage Protection” was awarded to the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. The award was accepted by Shamil Azizov, Assistant to the Executive Director of the Foundation.
Presenting the award, Fabrizio Conti, Creative Director of ArtCloud Network International, highlighted the Heydar Aliyev Foundation’s active international engagement in the protection of cultural heritage and the promotion of intercultural dialogue. He highly praised Azerbaijan’s contribution, as a Muslim country, to the preservation and restoration of Christian heritage. It was emphasized that under the leadership of the Foundation’s President, First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva, large-scale restoration and conservation works have been carried out at St. Peter’s Basilica, the principal place of worship of the Vatican, as well as in the Vatican catacombs. It was also noted that during Mehriban Aliyeva’s visit to the Vatican in October of this year, she personally reviewed the ongoing restoration works.
Expressing gratitude for the award, Shamil Azizov stated that the Foundation highly values the recognition of its long-term and consistent activities in the field of cultural heritage protection through this prestigious international award.
For information, it was noted that this year the Laurentum Award is presented under a renewed concept encompassing the full spectrum of contemporary art and thought. Widely respected in Italy’s cultural environment, the award highlights individuals and institutions that make a tangible contribution to the country’s intellectual and civic development.
