AltRoute in San Leonardo: Gubana as a bridge between tradition, generations and sustainable tourism
From 2 to 4 October 2026, San Leonardo and the Natisone Valleys hosted “Nelle Valli della Gubana – Dal produttore alla tavola”, a three-day programme organised within the Interreg Italy–Croatia AltRoute project. The initiative placed Gubana, the traditional pastry and one of the most recognisable symbols of the Natisone Valleys, at the centre of a broader experience connecting local food heritage, producers, communities and sustainable tourism.
The programme demonstrated in practice one of the main ideas promoted by AltRoute: local traditions and authentic food products can become an important resource for creating tourism experiences outside the main tourist routes, while supporting local producers and preserving the identity of rural areas.
The activities began with a local market fair dedicated to the food, wine and artisanal products of the territory. Croatian AltRoute partners also participated, presenting and offering tastings of traditional products from Sveti Petar u Šumi. This created an opportunity for direct exchange between the Italian and Croatian partners and for presenting different local gastronomic traditions within a shared cross-border context.
A particularly important part of the programme was the “Agribus delle Valli” experiential tour, which took participants directly to local producers. The itinerary included a visit to La Gubana della Nonna, where participants discovered the artisanal production process of Gubana, followed by visits to the Valfurlana goat farm and the Pestrofa rainbow trout farm. Through direct contact with producers, landscapes and local food production, the tour presented a concrete example of a farm-to-table approach and slow tourism experience that can contribute to the sustainable development and visibility of inland areas.
Gubana was further promoted through activities dedicated to its history, preparation and role in the identity of the Natisone Valleys. The programme explored how a traditional recipe, passed down through generations, can be preserved while at the same time becoming part of a contemporary and sustainable tourism offer. A comparative Gubana tasting also offered participants an opportunity to discover the characteristics and diversity of this traditional product.
A strong focus was placed on intergenerational knowledge transfer, one of the key principles of AltRoute. On Sunday, children and families took part in the hands-on workshop “Mani in pasta – Realizziamo la Gubana”, where younger participants had the opportunity to make their own Gubana and learn about the tradition through direct experience. The programme was complemented by the creative workshop “Trame di Sapori” and activities designed to connect children with local culture in an engaging and accessible way. The workshops were fully booked, demonstrating strong interest among families and younger generations.
Through food, workshops, experiential visits and direct encounters with local producers, the three-day programme showed how gastronomic heritage can become a living tourism resource rather than simply something to be preserved. Gubana became a starting point for telling the story of the Natisone Valleys, connecting generations and creating authentic experiences based on local knowledge, products and landscapes.
The San Leonardo activities therefore provided a practical example of the AltRoute approach: valorising local identity, strengthening links between producers and tourism, transferring traditional knowledge to younger generations and developing sustainable experiences capable of bringing visitors closer to lesser-known rural areas.
