A stroll through the alleys of the “vecchio incasato” of Grottammare with the Project Partners
11/06/2026
On February 23rd, the lead partner of the Timeless Adriatic project welcomed the partners to the city of Grottammare.
The meeting, which preceded the press conference, was attended by Project Manager Nicholas Murdica, Vice Mayor Lorenzo Rossi and representatives of the municipality of Grottammare, Vice Mayor Gianfranca Šuran and representatives of the city of Rovinj-Rovigno and Raffaella Lioce and Lisa Zecchin for Europelago Foundation.
For the lead partner, this was also an opportunity to act as hosts and offer a guided tour of the “vecchio incasato” of Grottammare (the historic upper town). This is where the historic clock tower stands: the starting point for this project, which aims to enhance tower clocks as cultural and creative generators. This tower shares a symbolic and value-based connection with the clock tower in the city of Rovinj - Rovigno.
The tour was led by Lorenzo Rossi, not only Vice Mayor but also Councilor for Cultural Growth and Tourism Hospitality of Grottammare, who accompanied the guests on a walk that showcased the artistic and touristic appeal of the upper town. The group visited the clock tower and observed its ancient mechanism, currently displayed in the adjacent Teatro dell'Arancio. On the tower's exterior facade, it is placed the stone clock face behind which there was once the mechanical pendulum clock now kept inside the theater.
The historic center of Grottammare follows a medieval layout organized around the main square (Piazza Peretti), which is overlooked by the city's most significant buildings, including the clock tower and the Teatro dell'Arancio. On the eastern side of the square sits another element related to time measurement: "Italic" dial sundial, restored in 2018.
During the visit, the Vice Mayor shared historical anecdotes about the upper town, Grottammare and its residents and traditions and detailed the history of the clock, built in 1844. He highlighted the craftsmanship of its creator, Pietro Mei, and its subsequent restoration and the decision to move it inside the Teatro dell’Arancio in 2022.
The visit to Grottammare's historic upper town served as a team-building opportunity for the partners, providing valuable context and motivation for the kickoff meeting held the following day.
