Italia-Croatia

The Veneto pathway “Taste the Destination – Territori in Azione” continues with a new territorial activation event in Este, bringing together local heritage, gastronomy, education and community participation.

Developed by CESCOT Veneto within the framework of the GUSTI – Gastro UpScaled Tourist Itinerary in Rural Regions of Croatia and Italy project, co-financed by the Interreg Italy–Croatia Programme, the initiative contributes to the project's broader objective of promoting sustainable gastro-cultural tourism through stakeholder engagement, local value chains and innovative destination experiences. 

A mystery dinner to discover the destination

On 25 June 2026, citizens, stakeholders and visitors will gather at Salumificio Giovanni Fontana in Este for an immersive mystery dinner experience organised in collaboration with Associazione Este in Centro.

Combining territorial storytelling, local gastronomy and active participation, the event will invite participants to become part of a collective investigation while discovering local products, traditions and stories connected to the area. Through this engaging format, the initiative aims to showcase how cultural narratives and food experiences can strengthen destination attractiveness and community involvement.

A territorial residency for young ambassadors
The public event will conclude a two-day territorial residency involving students from Smart Innovation School, one of the key educational partners of the pathway.
During 24–25 June, students will participate in a programme designed to connect education, tourism and local development. Activities will include:

A workshop on labour market trends and career opportunities in the tourism and digital sectors, delivered with the support of VenicePromex; 
A storytelling and sustainable tourism session led by Spin Life, focusing on destination narratives and experience design; 
Meetings with local businesses, institutions and stakeholders; 
Visits to local enterprises and cultural assets in Este. 
The residency aims to provide young participants with direct exposure to territorial development processes while encouraging them to become active contributors to the future of sustainable tourism.

Strengthening local networks through GUSTI

The Este event represents another step in the implementation of the Taste the Destination framework developed within GUSTI. By connecting businesses, institutions, researchers, young people and local communities, the project seeks to create new opportunities for cooperation and to transform local cultural and gastronomic assets into meaningful tourism experiences. These activities contribute to GUSTI's wider mission of strengthening sustainable destination management and promoting gastro-cultural tourism across rural regions of Italy and Croatia. 

Event information
Salumificio Giovanni Fontana, Este (Italy)
25 June 2026
19:00 – Mystery Dinner Experience

The event is currently fully booked. For information about the Taste the Destination pathway and upcoming activities, please contact: progettazione@cescotveneto.it

Through Taste the Destination, GUSTI continues to demonstrate how local identities, community engagement and experiential tourism can work together to build more sustainable and resilient destinations.