Time to Innovate: TIMELESS ADRIATIC’s Kick-Off Meeting in Grottammare
11/06/2026
On February 24th, the Municipality of Grottammare, acting as the Lead Partner, hosted the official kick-off meeting for a project that blends history, community, and future vision. The event brought together all active partners to align their efforts and ensure that every planned action reflects the core values and objectives established when the project was conceived.
By framing all activities within a single, coherent structure, the partners highlighted how the project stems from a common foundation and then branches into two parallel paths that intersect at key stages.
The project’s foundation lies in the deep historical and cultural knowledge of tower clocks and their local territories—a heritage that will be shared with both the youth and the wider community. From this shared starting point, the initiative branches into two parallel, yet interconnected, paths:
-
Creative Hubs & Youth Engagement: This line focuses on collective learning and shared storytelling. It features an Innovation Challenge designed to involve young people in reimagining historical clock towers through multidisciplinary proposals, culminating in vibrant Festivals in the cities of Grottammare and Rovinj-Rovigno.
-
Towards the UNESCO candidacy: Simultaneously, the project aims to pave the way for a possible UNESCO candidacy for "Adriatic tower clockmaking" as intangible cultural heritage. Expert working groups will be tasked with mapping historical towers along the Adriatic coast and documenting the artistic and restoration practices that keep this tradition alive.
Beyond the vision, the meeting was deeply practical. Working groups defined essential operational steps, including the selection of participating high schools, the timeline for the Innovation Challenge, and the strategic training themes that will guide students in their creative work. Technical sessions also clarified roles, internal and external communication channels, and the 18-month work plan.
The meeting concluded with a clear roadmap for the coming months. Partners left Grottammare not only with a definitive list of operational next steps but also with a renewed sense of connection and enthusiasm for the journey ahead.