🎉 Great Success for the 6th Castellieri Day: A Cross-Border Scientific and Professional Conference Featuring Archaeology, Social Inclusion, Sustainability, and Workshops
On November 22-23, 2024, the 6th edition of Castellieri Day took place with remarkable participation. For the first time, this cross-border scientific and professional event was part of the KAŠTellieri project—Sustainable Cultural and Tourist Destination: The Cross-Border Land of Protohistoric Castellieri of the Upper Adriatic, co-financed by the European Union under the Interreg VI-A Italy-Slovenia Programme.
Over 100 participants, including experts, institutional representatives, and enthusiasts, attended two days of cultural, scientific, and hands-on activities hosted by the Humanities Research Center of ZRS Koper and the Sonček Association in Elerji.
A High-Level Program and International Collaborations
First Day: Presentations and Roundtable Discussions
The event began with institutional welcome speeches delivered by:
- Dr. Tilen Glavina, Deputy Director and Head of the Center for Venetian History and Cultural Heritage of ZRS Koper
- Mario Steffè, Deputy Mayor of the City of Koper, Municipality of Koper
- Paolo Polidori, Mayor of Muggia
- Uroš Jelenovič, Representative of the City of Koper and Project Leader
The first day featured a series of academic contributions and meaningful discussions, including:
- Strategic guidelines for developing a sustainable cultural and tourist destination, presented by Astrid Prašnikar and Dr. Nina Tomažević, outlining approaches to sustainably enhance prehistoric Castellieri- Hillforts.
- A series of presentations on archaeological research and heritage interpretation by prominent experts such as Dr. Federico Bernardini, Dr. Elena Leghissa, Dr. Elisabetta Borgna, Susi Corazza, Giulio Simeoni, Dr. Manca Vinazza, Dr. Alenka Tomaž, Dr. Martina Blečić Kavur, and Dr. Boris Kavur.
- A panel discussion on social inclusion as a project challenge, featuring experiences and testimonials from organizations and institutions, including:
- Iztok Suhadolnik (Sonček Association)
- Lea Korbar, Damjana Štukelj, and Julija Drgan (Dom na Krasu)
- Dr. Maja Zadel, dr. Ksenija Perković and dr. Blaž Lenarčič (ZRS Koper)
- Snježana Karinja and Franco Juri (Sergej Mašera Maritime Museum of Piran)
- Živa Kaligarič and Anja Slavec (Riverside School, London)
- Nena Bibica (Pina)
- Anja Cerkvenik (Center for Communication, Hearing, and Speech, Portorož)
- Darja Černac (Sožitje)
- A roundtable on sustainable cultural tourism, titled “From Archaeological Discovery to a Five-Star Experience”, moderated by Ariana Durnik. The discussion featured concrete examples and best practices from Slovenia and Italy presented by:
- Dr. Vesna Merc (Arheolov)
- Petra Stušek (Ljubljana Tourism)
- Bogdan Macarol (Association of Karst and Brkini Tourist Guides)
- Manca Pepevnik (Slovenian Tourist Board)
- Astrid Prašnikar (ROS.TURIST - Institute for Responsible Tourism)
- Lara Černetič (Venetian Cluster)
This roundtable inspired the development of five-star tourism products as part of the KAŠTellieri project.
A highlight of the day was the signing of the accession charter by new members during the expansion of the Cross-Border Consortium "The Land of Prehistoric Hillforts/Castellieri."
Second Day: Workshops and Field Activities
The second day focused on practical activities with thematic workshops that actively engaged participants:
- Tablet weaving led by Maruša Bizjak
- Preparation of prehistoric dishes by the Šparžin Association
- Crafting prehistoric bowl-shaped souvenirs, guided by members of Dom na Krasu, who mentored participants from Sonček
- Demonstration of prehistoric pottery techniques by Alenka Gololičič
The program concluded with a guided tour of the prehistoric Hillfort - Castellieri of Elleri, led by Dr. Paolo Paronuzzi, followed by a tasting of prehistoric dishes prepared by the Šparžin Association. The day ended with a screening of the film Hema – The Story of Castellieri.
Cultural and Archaeological Heritage, Inclusion, and Sustainability: The Heart of the Event
A central focus of the initiative was the commitment to making cultural and archaeological heritage accessible to all. The showcased best practices highlighted the value of collaboration among local communities, associations, and institutions to promote an inclusive and sustainable tourism model.
Gratitude and Future Perspectives
Sincere thanks go to all participants, project partners, and organizers from the Humanities Research Center of ZRS Koper and the Sonček Association in Elerji.
With the 6th Castellieri Day, the KAŠTellieri project reaffirms its role as a promoter of a sustainable cultural and tourist network, showcasing a unique heritage with great potential for the future of the Upper Adriatic.
📖 To commemorate the event, a summary booklet with the conference program has been published, available digitally on the official project website: www.ita-slo.eu/kastellieri.
👉 For more details about the project and updates on upcoming events, visit our official website: www.ita-slo.eu/kastellieri.
