4th Project Partner Meeting Held in Vieste
07/11/2025
On October 1–2, 2025, the FORTIC Project partners gathered in Vieste (Italy) for the 4th Project Partner Meeting, followed by the 4th Steering Committee Meeting and an International Conference organised and hosted by the Municipality of Vieste.
The Partner Meeting offered an important platform to review the current status of activities, assess progress within each work package, and plan the next implementation steps. Partners presented updates on achieved results, ongoing deliverables, and upcoming tasks, ensuring coordination and alignment with the overall project timeline.
Special attention was given to the development of the Joint Strategy on Cultural Heritage, which will serve as a key framework for sustainable management and valorisation of fortifications in the Italy–Croatia cross-border area. The Strategy will combine analyses, best practices, and partner insights to promote the integration of cultural heritage into sustainable tourism and local development.
The Steering Committee Meeting took place alongside the partner sessions, ensuring effective coordination and strategic alignment of project activities.
A study visit to the fortified city of Vieste followed, where participants explored the historic centre and the Castle of Vieste — emblematic landmarks that illustrate the town’s layered defensive history and cultural significance within the Adriatic fortification network.
On the second day, the International Conference on Business Models for Fortifications brought together experts, researchers, and stakeholders from the fields of heritage management, tourism, and sustainable development. Discussions centred on innovative strategies that combine economic viability, community engagement, and environmental responsibility to ensure the long-term preservation and adaptive reuse of fortifications.
The event concluded with a Sustainability Workshop, which addressed current challenges and emerging opportunities in sustainable tourism. The workshop encouraged an integrated perspective, linking cultural heritage preservation with social and economic benefits for local communities.
The Vieste meeting reaffirmed the partners’ shared commitment to strengthening the FORTIC network and developing transferable tools and models that can support sustainable and resilient heritage management across the Adriatic region.
