An international summer school started at St. John’s Fortress Campus in Šibenik. The summer school is held as part of the European project FORTIC – From remains Of the war to the aRchiTecture of peace in cross-border area of Italy-Croatia.
The programme is organised by the Public Cultural Institution Fortress of Culture Šibenik, which is also the host of the event and the expert partner in presenting the Šibenik model of managing fortified heritage. As the manager of the restored Šibenik fortresses, Fortress of Culture Šibenik will present its good practice in sustainable cultural heritage management, development of cultural and educational programmes, and modern use of fortified spaces.
The programme takes place from 5 to 9 May 2026 and brings together 20 students and 4 professors from Juraj Dobrila University of Pula (UNIPU) and Ca’ Foscari University of Venice (UNIVE). Its goal is to encourage cross-border cooperation, interdisciplinary learning, and joint work on topics related to cultural heritage, sustainable tourism, and the modern reuse of fortifications.
The summer school programme focuses on sustainable tourism and management models in fortifications, with special attention to the Šibenik fortresses as examples of restoration, valorisation, and modern use of fortified heritage. During the five-day programme, participants will learn about the Šibenik model of cultural heritage management through lectures, expert guided tours, fieldwork, and group work. They will also exchange knowledge and experience on the role of fortifications in the development of sustainable tourism, cultural programmes, and the local community.
The expert part of the programme includes lectures on sustainable cultural heritage management, development of cultural content in restored fortified spaces, sustainability, and inclusivity. Lecture topics include Sustainable Management – Transforming Cultural Heritage into Cultural Hotspots and Night of Fortresses, Sustainability, Inclusivity. Through these lectures, participants will learn about examples of good practice in managing heritage sites and presenting them in a modern way.
An important part of the programme includes expert visits to Šibenik’s fortified heritage sites. Participants will visit St. John’s Fortress, Barone Fortress, St. Michael’s Fortress, and St. Nicholas’ Fortress. They will learn about their history, restoration, current function, and role in the cultural life of the city. The programme also includes a guided tour of Šibenik’s old town, giving students a wider view of the city’s historical, urban, and cultural context.
A special focus is placed on student group work, which will compare the Šibenik fortresses with fortifications in Istria and/or Italy. Through joint work, participants will analyse different models of management, interpretation, and reuse of fortified heritage. They will also consider possibilities for its sustainable use in today’s social and tourism context.
The results of the group work will be presented at Barone Fortress, as part of the Night of Fortresses programme. This will give students the opportunity to publicly present their conclusions, ideas, and proposals, and connect them with concrete examples of heritage management in practice.
The summer school will end with a trip to the island of Zlarin and a guided visit to the Croatian Coral Centre Zlarin. This will give participants the opportunity to learn more about the natural and cultural heritage of the Šibenik area.
By hosting this summer school, Šibenik becomes a place of international academic exchange, field learning, and professional discussion about the future of fortified heritage. The programme also supports stronger cooperation between Croatian and Italian partners and the development of new ideas for sustainable management of heritage spaces in the cross-border area of Italy and Croatia.
The FORTIC project promotes the valorisation of fortifications as spaces of peace and cooperation. It also encourages cross-border exchange and sustainable development of cultural heritage. The project is co-financed through the Interreg Italy–Croatia 2021–2027 Programme. The project consortium includes the City of Pula as the lead partner, and the following partners: Juraj Dobrila University of Pula, Public Cultural Institution Fortress of Culture Šibenik, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Municipality of Cervia, Municipality of Vieste, and City of Korčula.
This text was produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents are the sole responsibility of the Public Cultural Institution Fortress of Culture Šibenik and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.
