The Dubrovnik Port Authority, together with several Croatian and Italian ports, is one of the partners in the interesting ADRIJO project. The project, worth more than €2 million, aims to preserve, promote and digitally present the maritime and cultural heritage of Croatian and Italian Adriatic cities through virtual museums, themed routes, multimedia content and interactive tourist experiences. The project promotes Dubrovnik's maritime tradition, the heritage of the Republic of Dubrovnik and the importance of the Port of Dubrovnik in connecting the Mediterranean and the Adriatic. Through the platform, virtual content, cultural routes and 3D multimedia presentations are available, including an animation of the Dubrovnik carrack, a symbol of Dubrovnik's commercial power.
The ADRIJO project is primarily funded through the European cross-border cooperation program Interreg Italy–Croatia, with support from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The platform was developed through two connected EU projects. The REMEMBER project (2019–2022) – Restoring the Memory of Adriatic Ports Sites – was the first step in creating the ADRIJO network and digital platform. Its focus was the preservation and promotion of the maritime and cultural heritage of eight Adriatic ports, including Dubrovnik. It was funded through the Interreg Italy–Croatia 2014–2020 program. The continuation of the project further develops the ADRIJO platform through new digital content, thematic routes and interactive tourism tools. It is funded by the Interreg Italy–Croatia 2021–2027 programme with a total budget of approximately €2.66 million, of which more than €2.13 million is financed by the European Union's ERDF.
ADRIJO is a word created by combining the Italian word "Adriatico" and the Croatian word "Jadransko." It describes the Adriatic Sea, which unites two cultural identities and two coastlines, as well as eight Italian and Croatian ports, Ancona, Ravenna, Venice, Trieste, Rijeka, Zadar, Split and Dubrovnik, creating a cultural bridge between the two sides of the Adriatic. The very name ADRIJO symbolises the shared identity of these regions.
Through the ADRIJOROUTES project, the partners aim to further explore and strengthen the historical and cultural links connecting ports, cities and territories while promoting sustainability, social inclusion and digitalisation within the tourism sector of the Italian and Croatian Adriatic regions. The project's objective is the preservation, promotion and digital presentation of the maritime and cultural heritage of Croatian and Italian Adriatic cities. It is intended for the general public, including both tourists and local residents. ADRIJO enables tourists to: Explore Dubrovnik through themed routes such as the UNESCO Route, the Architectural Route, and the Travellers & Trade Route. Visit virtual museums, 3D models, videos, audio content and panoramic views before arriving in the city. Discover lesser-known locations and stories from Dubrovnik's maritime history. Use digital and augmented reality (AR) content while exploring the city and the Port of Dubrovnik. Gain a deeper understanding of Dubrovnik's connections with other Adriatic cities through their shared history of trade, maritime activity and culture.
It is also important to emphasise the value the project brings to the local community. It strengthens awareness of Dubrovnik's maritime and cultural heritage, provides schools, students and cultural institutions with access to digitised content, promotes local stories, traditions and identity through modern technologies, supports the development of sustainable tourism that extends beyond the city's busiest tourist attractions, and connects the local community with international projects and cultural institutions in other Adriatic cities.
The content available on the ADRIJO platforms has been developed in cooperation with the Dubrovnik Maritime Museum and its director Ana Kaznačić. This collaboration has enabled the digitisation of Dubrovnik's maritime heritage in line with Croatia's national e-Kultura project and the National Plan for the Digitisation of Cultural Heritage, which identifies increasing online accessibility and the use of digital cultural heritage as one of Croatia's strategic goals.
The project is particularly important for Dubrovnik because it enables the digitisation of maritime heritage, the development of cultural and tourism routes, the promotion of Dubrovnik as a historic maritime power, the continued development of sustainable and cultural tourism in line with the Respect the City initiative, and stronger cooperation with other Adriatic cities through joint projects and cultural partnerships.
ADRIJO is available as both a web platform and a mobile application for Android and iPhone devices. It presents Dubrovnik as a “living museum” of maritime history and Mediterranean culture, rather than simply a destination for a day trip. Through its digital content, users can explore the story of the Dubrovnik carrack, historic trade routes, the city's port heritage and Dubrovnik's connections with the entire Adriatic region. The project is also active on social media.
🌐 Website
🔹 https://www.adrijo.eu/hr/
🔹 https://www.adrijo.eu/en/
📘 Facebook
🔹 https://www.facebook.com/adrijoroutes/
📸 Instagram
🔹 https://www.instagram.com/adrijoroutes
🎥 YouTube
🔹 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnoSyHhEGSdXyCCcEo7L9KA
🔹 @adrijoroutes
🧊 Sketchfab / 3D modeli
🔹 https://sketchfab.com/adrijo
