During the three-day meeting, participants from eight countries: Slovenia, Italy, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and Belgium, discussed project progress and the next steps in project implementation. Particular attention was paid to developing a governance model for memorial sites on the Polish-Slovak, Slovenian-Italian, and Slovenian-Hungarian borders. Moreover, partners worked in groups addressing issues such as communication, heritage promotion, and the development of tourism products related to the history of World War I.
A key part of the programme was the presentation of MITAG’s resources, including unique museum collections and approaches to managing war heritage in the Trentino region.
The second day of the meeting was devoted to field exploration of memorial sites. Participants climbed Monte Zugna, where fierce battles between Italian and Austro-Hungarian forces took place in the early 20th century. Today, the area, known as the Parco della Pace (Peace Park), is a unique open-air museum, where numerous traces and fortifications from the war have been preserved.
The final day was dedicated to promoting the project and international cooperation. An event open to the public was organized, attended by distinguished guests from abroad. One of the key highlights of the program was a presentation by Viola Scalacci from Liberation Route Europe, who presented issues related to international historical narratives and the joint protection of cultural heritage.
A strategic meeting of key Italian and Slovenian stakeholders involved in the protection of World War I heritage was also held. The main goal was to strengthen cultural and territorial ties between Slovenia and the Italian regions of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Trentino-Alto Adige, and Lombardy. The future of memorial trails and the creation of cross-border historical trails that will physically and symbolically connect places linked to a shared past were also discussed.
The meeting in Rovereto confirmed that international cooperation in the area of historical memory can be not only a source of knowledge and reflection, but also an impetus for the development of new forms of cultural and historical tourism and forging lasting bonds between the nations of Europe.