Pietro Cortesi is a native of the city of Ravenna in Italy. He is an architect and urban planner who, since the early 80's, has dedicated his life to making Ravenna the "city of memories" it is today. As the Superintendent of Monuments, Fine Arts and Landscape of the Emilia-Romagna region, he has worked to restore Ravenna's ancient churches and monuments, as well as to build and modernize the city's infrastructure. He has also helped to create parks, walkways and bike paths throughout the city. Cortesi's work to preserve and celebrate Ravenna's history and culture has earned him nationwide respect. Furthermore, his urban planning initiatives have resulted in the growth and prosperity of Ravenna, while still preserving the integrity of its history and culture. His passion and dedication to his work, his local city, and his country make him an invaluable asset to the city of Ravenna and the entire Italian nation.