Legislative Decree No. 42 laying down the Code on Cultural Heritage and Landscape.

The Central Government aims at protecting the State cultural heritage, in cooperation with the Regions, Provinces and Municipalities. Article 2 gives the definition of cultural heritage by including not only artistic heritage, but also landscape. The Code on Cultural Heritage hereby laid down is composed of four Parts. Part III is entirely devoted to the “landscape heritage”. Title I of this Part regards the measures to be adopted in order to ensure and enhance such heritage. Article 134 indicates the immovable properties and areas which shall be subjected to protection measures. Planning functions are entrusted to the Regions (art. 143). The landscape plans shall divide the territory concerned into homogeneous areas as per specific levels of “landscape value”. Particular quality objectives shall be given to each level. Restrictions on the use and disposal by owners of possessors are set out under article 146. All the authorizations hereby envisaged shall be issued by Landscape Commissions to be set up by the Regions within one year as from the entry into force of this Act. Part IV concerns administrative sanctions and penalties.