The foreign ministry on Thursday praised the recognition Italy received from the United Nations cultural organisation for three traditional practices - seasonal livestock droving along Mediterranean migratory routes, Alpinism and The Celestinian Forgiveness annual celebration in the central city of L'Aquila.

The foreign ministry said it "welcomes with satisfaction" the inscriptions by UNESCO of the three Italian practices in its Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. "This positive result was achieved thanks to concerted efforts by the foreign ministry, Italy's national UNESCO committee, the foreign, agriculture and environment ministries, local bodies, communities and sponsoring committees," the foreign ministry statement said.