MARE SUPERUM – Northern Adriatic: Sustainable Development and Cultural Preservation
The Regional Development Centre Koper (Regionalni razvojni center Koper) is a partner in the MARE SUPERUM project, which brings together cross-border partners to develop sustainable tourism and preserve the maritime heritage of the Northern Adriatic.
The project develops a joint tourism product based on social and environmental sustainability, while strengthening, preserving, and promoting the rich maritime heritage of our coastal areas. Due to mass tourism, many destinations and local communities have been excluded from participation, leading to social marginalization and cultural homogenization. At the same time, there is growing interest among visitors in hidden natural and cultural gems off the beaten path, but information for planning visits is often lacking. MARE SUPERUM connects local public authorities, support organizations, development agencies, and research institutes, enabling effective exchange of knowledge, resources, and best practices, while strengthening cross-border cooperation.
Project objectives
- Develop a cross-border tourism offer that includes lesser-visited destinations.
- Promote low-carbon and ethical holidays and prevent social exclusion.
- Increase destination visibility and accessibility of maritime heritage, and support local stakeholders with new capacities.
Planned results
The project will develop a transnational strategy and three action plans, establish an environmental monitoring system, create mapping of sites, restore selected maritime artifacts, and prepare an online maritime heritage catalog as part of the cross-border tourism offer.
Project partners:
- Confesercenti Metropolitana Venezia-Rovigo – Lead Partner
- Regional Development Centre Koper
- Maritime Museum – Museo del Mare “Sergej Mašera” Piran-Pirano
- Associazione Artigiani Venezia Confartigianato
- Comune di Monfalcone
- University of Ljubljana – Faculty of Maritime Studies and Transport
Project start: 1st July 2025
Project duration: 30 months
Total project value: €1,100,651.88
ERDF contribution: €408,295.20
Project manager: mag. Heidi Olenik
Contact: heidi.olenik@rrc-kp.si
Website of the Interreg Italy-Slovenia program: https://www.ita-slo.eu/sl/mare-superum