KAŠTellieri Project

PROJECT PRESENTATION

A sustainable cultural and tourism destination: The cross-border land of Prehistoric hillforts of the Upper Adriatic

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The area stretching from Kvarner, Istria, Čičarija and Brkini to the Karst Plateau and Veneto is united by its rich natural heritage and shared past. A particularly valuable feature of this territory is the network of prehistoric hillforts from the Bronze and Iron Ages (2nd–1st millennium BC), known locally as kaštelirji, gradine, kasteljeri, or kastellieri. Much of this nearly forgotten heritage remains hidden in the landscape today.

The KAŠTellieri project continues the successful work of the Kaštelir project (Interreg SI-HR 2014–2020), expanding it to a wider cross-border area between Italy and Slovenia. The project aims to connect the prehistoric heritage of the entire Upper Adriatic region and to revive, interpret and integrate it into a sustainable tourism offering — while preserving its natural environment and cultural richness.

The project’s main challenge is to preserve and promote both the tangible and intangible heritage of these prehistoric hillforts and the communities that built them. Through digital innovation, creative industries and sustainable practices, KAŠTellieri seeks to make this heritage accessible and engaging for today’s visitors, while fostering the development of sustainable rural tourism, reducing seasonality and relieving pressure from overcrowded coastal destinations.

The project is built on strong cross-border partnerships and the involvement of local communities, encouraging knowledge transfer, the exchange of experiences and the creation of new sustainable cultural and tourism products for both visitors and locals.

PROJECT DETAILS

  • Programme: Interreg VI-A Italy–Slovenia 2021–2027
  • Policy Objective: PO4 – A more social and inclusive Europe by implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights
  • Specific Objective: SO6 – Enhancing the role of culture and sustainable tourism in economic development, social inclusion and social innovation
  • Type: Standard Project
  • Duration: 30 months (22 April 2024 – 21 October 2026)
  • Project Value: €1,364,133.46 | ERDF Contribution: €1,091,306.76
  • Number of Partners: 6 (3 Slovenian, 3 Italian), Municipality of Koper / Comune città di Capodistria, ZRS – Science and Research Centre Koper, Public Institute for Tourism and Culture Miren Kras, Venetian Cluster, Municipality of San Dorligo della Valle / Občina Dolina, Istituto Veneto di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti
  • Associated Partners: 8: Comune di Muggia, Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Slovenia, Municipality of Izola / Comune di Isola, Regional Development Agency of Karst and Brkini, Municipality of Hrpelje – Kozina, Municipality of Komen, Istria County, Public Institute for Entrepreneurship and Development Projects of the Municipality of Izola

Project Manager: Uroš Jelenovič

Project Teams by Partner:

  • Municipality of Koper / Comune città di Capodistria: Uroš Jelenovič, Boštjan Žlak
  • ZRS – Science and Research Centre Koper: Tilen Glavina, Maša Saccara
  • Public Institute for Tourism and Culture Miren Kras: Anja Sedevčič Lasič, Ariana Durnik
  • Venetian Cluster: Sergio Calò, Michela Aiudi, Anna Franco, Lara Černetič, Stefano Paladini
  • Municipality of San Dorligo della Valle / Občina Dolina: Mitja Lovriha, Jasmina Smotlak, Goran Čuk
  • Istituto Veneto di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti: Sebastiano Pedrocco, Marco Gislon, Elena Fiorenzano

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

  • To preserve, enhance and protect the cultural heritage of prehistoric hillforts (kaštelirji) as part of a sustainable, cross-border cultural and tourism destination — the Land of Prehistoric Hillforts of the Upper Adriatic.
  • To revive selected hillfort sites in innovative and sustainable ways, incorporating digital storytelling, social inclusion and green transition principles.
  • To develop sustainable cultural and tourism products, while strengthening cooperation between project partners and local communities.

MAIN RESULTS AND DIRECT IMPACTS

  • Development of a Joint Strategy and Action Plan for the growth of the Cross-Border Destination Land of Prehistoric Hillforts of the Upper Adriatic.
  • Establishment of the First Cross-Border Archaeological Institute for the Upper Adriatic and formation of a Cross-Border Hillfort Consortium.
  • Creation of digital interpretation tools: upgrading the Aviko virtual avatar, enhancing the kastelir.eu platform, developing the cross-border cycling product Kaštelirji Road, producing 3D models of hillforts, and launching new 5-star visitor experiences.
  • Establishment of interpretation points at selected hillfort locations.
  • Delivery of joint training programmes for tourist guides, local providers, and people with special needs.
  • Organisation of cross-border events: festivals, Kaštelir Days, children’s workshops, study tours for journalists, guides and influencers.

 

The KAŠTellieri project is co-financed by the European Union under the Interreg VI-A Italy–Slovenia Programme.