The article deals with Giannini’s contribution to the field of cultural property. First, it examines his works on the topic, especially the essay on cultural property written in 1975-1976. Second, it analyses the key role that he played in reforming the administration of cultural property. Thus, it is possible to identify the legacy of Giannini’s thought in this field: legal scholarship and institutions could thus greatly benefit from a great amount of ideas and proposals; some of these were misunderstood, some have not yet been implemented, but fortunately many have been realized.