Cultural Heritage and Public Health
Carmelo Guarino, PhD

Abstract
Aim: A growing body of scientific evidence shows the close relationship between enjoyment of culture and arts and public health and social well-being. In light of this, for years, the World Health Organization and UNESCO have been working in synergy to create programs aimed at protecting what the anthropologist Claude Lévi-Strauss defined as “fragile flowers of humanity”, while being extraordinarily capable of preserving identity, memory and social bonds, promote social health and consolidate social capital. Results: This work, using the Narrative review method, provides a summary of the most recent and interesting studies in this area of investigation which combines Social sciences, Human sciences and Medical sciences. Conclusions: Scientific evidences and reports from large international organizations show a positive relationship between enjoyment of culture, from opera to drama, from cinema to exhibitions, and public health, both in curative and preventive terms. This compels the decision making system the need to adopt policies capable of investing in culture and art for the promotion of health.

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