Bridging History and Innovation: Inside the Upcoming Podcast Series
04/06/2026
The intersection of ancient history and cutting-edge technology is creating a new era for cultural tourism. Within the framework of the ARCHAEODIGIT project (co-funded by the European Union under the Interreg Italy-Croatia programme), we are thrilled to introduce a key component of our training and communication activities: the upcoming podcast series, "Digging Digital: the ARCHAEODIGIT Podcast".
This 20-episode educational series translates complex academic data and technical expertise into highly engaging, practical knowledge for operators, students, and stakeholders across the Adriatic region.
A Synergy of Academic and Technological Excellence
The structure of this podcast reflects a powerful cross-border partnership, drafted and coordinated by the Forum of the Adriatic and Ionian Chambers of Commerce. To deliver comprehensive insights, three key project partners have combined their expertise to anchor the educational content:
- University of Macerata (UMC): Leading the charge on the art of storytelling, modern archaeological park management paradigms, and the integration of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for smart territorial planning.
- University of Pula (UPU): Bringing vital knowledge on community engagement, merging tangible ruins with local folklore, and navigating the complexities of EU project financing and long-term economic sustainability.
- ETT (Technical Partner): Guiding listeners through the "Phygital" frontier, exploring the applications of Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), the Metaverse, gamification, and how to effectively utilize the ARCHAEODIGIT digital platform.
Exploring the 5 Thematic Modules
The 20 episodes are strategically divided into 5 distinct modules, directly derived from the ARCHAEODIGIT Joint Training Courses curricula:
- Storytelling in the Valorisation of Archaeological Heritage. Moving away from dry, traditional guided tours, this module focuses on turning academic data into captivating narratives. Experts from UMC and UPU discuss how to tailor stories for diverse audiences (families, youth, the elderly) and how to blend physical ruins with intangible local legends and culinary traditions.
- Planning and Management of Archaeological Parks. Shifting the focus toward sustainable governance, this module explores how to integrate historical sites into the local economic ecosystem. It highlights practical management models and emphasizes the role of local SMEs and citizens in the decision-making process.
- Digital Technologies (ICT) in Cultural Heritage. Led by our technical partner ETT, this module deep-dives into the digital toolkit. Listeners will get a practical walkthrough of the ARCHAEODIGIT platform, discover how gamification can attract younger generations, and learn to navigate the infrastructure challenges and accessibility needs of digital cultural paths.
- Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for Archaeological Sites. Managed by UMC, these episodes demonstrate how spatial analysis tools can mitigate seasonal tourism pressure. By mapping site infrastructure, accessibility, and conducting spatial SWOT analyses, operators can design seamless cross-border itineraries that connect coastal hotspots with inland heritage.
- Financing Projects in Culture and Tourism. Innovation requires funding. UPU experts outline how cultural institutions and tourism SMEs can successfully navigate EU and national funds. This module provides a masterclass on writing winning proposals, managing project budgets, tracking KPIs, and ensuring innovations thrive long after the EU funding cycle completes.
What’s Next?
This podcasts series, developed as a core component of our training initiatives, aims to empower a new generation of cultural managers and local operators with future-proof, practical skills.
Once launched, the complete 20-episode collection will be widely accessible across the following digital platforms and repositories:
- Major Podcast Directories: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts
- Video & Media: ARCHAEODIGIT YouTube channel
- Official Portals: Italy-Croatia Programme website & our dedicated Project webpage
- Open Science Preservation: Zenodo (for long-term academic and professional access)
Be sure to follow our official social media channels to get notified the moment the first episodes drop!
