PROJECT
Bonding
Through Heritage
...where history weaves its tales.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
“Bonding Through Heritage” encompasses a coordinated set of activities aimed at creating a shared vision for the development of a distinctive and unique cultural heritage in urban areas, while also fostering tourism growth based on the principles of sustainability.
The project takes an integrated approach to the cultural and historical heritage of the Rijeka Urban Agglomeration – through mapping, narrative creation, planning of interpretation activities, formation of a shared presentation infrastructure, branding, promotional strategies, and strategic management. The infrastructure to be restored or built will primarily serve to spark interest among local residents and a wider population, and to enhance the appeal of specific sites, especially for visitors interested in historical and cultural tourism. In addition, the project has a strong educational aspect for primary and secondary school students, aligning with history and literature curricula.
The project implementation will result in new cultural and tourism offers based on the physical infrastructure of cultural and historical heritage, including additional components that would connect the newly developed spaces with other heritage sites across the Rijeka Urban Agglomeration. Through a set of planned activities, the project aims to establish or renovate 13 cultural and tourism locations within the area:
- Establishment of a heritage visitor center in Rijeka
2. Opening of the House of Kostrena Mariners
3. Reconstruction of the Brseč Castle and restoration of the birth home of writer Eugen Kumičić
4. Trebišće Ethno Village – opening of the Myth and History Trail Trebišće–Perun
5. Revitalization of the Mošćenice Castle – Mošćenice, a Vibrant Historical Town
6. Adaptation of the House of the Lovran Guc
7. Renovation of Zrinski Square
8. Conservation and equipping of Crekvina as a summer festival stage and open-air heritage interpretation site
9. Restoration of Lokvina Square
10. Construction and equipping of the House of the Halubje Bell Ringers - Revitalization Villa Angiolina
12. Revitalization of the Gradina Castle in Klana
13. Revitalization of the Grobnik Castle
In the future, the endeavor will include additional cultural and historical heritage sites, as the basic interpretive message of the “Bonding Through Heritage” project is to present the wide diversity of heritage, lifestyles and cultural identities of the Rijeka Urban Agglomeration.




MAIN ACTIVITIES
The planned activities, aimed to establish or renovate 13 cultural and tourist sites within the Rijeka Urban Agglomeration, include the following:
- City of Rijeka: Establishment of a Cultural and Tourist Visitor Center in Rijeka;
A unique space for presenting cultural and historical heritage will be opened on the ground floor of the Filodrammatica building. The center will serve as a place where visitors can learn more about the cultural heritage of all project partners. - Municipality of Kostrena: Opening of the House of Kostrena Mariners;
The former Sv. Barbara school building in Kostrena will be renovated and transformed into an interpretation center dedicated to the preservation and celebration of maritime cultural and traditional heritage. The House of Kostrena Mariners will offer a modern presentation of the lives and roles of sailors in society and explore various maritime-related topics. - Municipality of Mošćenička Draga:
Renovation of the birth home of writer Eugen Kumičić
The birth home of the Croatian writer Eugen Kumičić will be reconstructed into a permanent exhibition space presenting the story of Kumičić, Brseč, and the surrounding area. Kumičić himself will be the central focus of the interpretation, and his home will serve as the starting point for exploring the town, its surroundings and the elements of its eco-museum.
Trebišće Ethno Village – Opening of the Myth and History Trail Trebišće–Perun
The interpretation center will be housed in a traditional stone house in Trebišće, offering a museological and museographic interpretation of Old Slavic mythology, while also presenting other heritage values of the area. The exhibition is designed using an interdisciplinary, creative, and innovative approach. It is specially adapted to the rural context, and has a strong European dimension seen through the lens of Slavic mythology.
Revitalization of the Mošćenice Castle – Mošćenice, a Living Historical Town
The Mošćenice Museum & Interpretation Center will comprise an ethnographic collection presenting the tangible and intangible heritage of the historic town of Mošćenice and its surroundings. This will enrich the cultural and tourist offerings of Mošćenička Draga.
- Municipality of Lovran: Adaptation of the Lovran Guc House;
The Lovran Guc House will be expanded, integrating the existing Lovran guc exhibition space and the City Tower to create a functional and attractive space. - City of Kraljevica: Reconstruction of Zrinski Square;
The project provides for the reconstruction and outfitting of the inner courtyard (atrium) of Zrinski Castle, located in the center of Kraljevica. The aim is to consolidate the local tourism offer through the protection and restoration of cultural heritage, and enhance the tourist offer of Kraljevica and the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County. - City of Kastav:
Conservation and equipping of Crekvina as a summer festival stage and open-air heritage interpretation site;
Crekvina Square will be renovated and transformed into a modern presentation site, and a cultural and tourist attraction.
Restoration of Lokvina Square;
Lokvina Square will be renovated and presented as a public space dedicated to cultural heritage interpretation.
- Municipality of Viškovo: Construction and equipping of the House of the Halubje Bell Ringers;
The House of the Halubje Bell Ringers will have multiple purposes. It will serve as an exhibition and presentation area featuring a permanent ethnographic collection of the local bell ringers, and as a venue for education workshops and entertainment programs. It will also have a souvenir shop and a space for tasting local specialties. - City of Opatija: Revitalization of Villa Angiolina;
The project provides for the renovation and reconstruction of Villa Angiolina, home to the Croatian Museum of Tourism, to prevent deterioration of this protected cultural landmark. The aim is to restore its original condition and equip the museum in a way that would allow for a modern presentation of Croatian tourism heritage. The renovation will also include a new museum display that would attract more visitors. - Municipality of Klana: Revitalization of Gradina Castle in Klana;
The project includes the revitalization and enhancement of the Gradina archaeological site, located just above the center of Klana. It will serve as a place for various cultural programs as well as other tourism-related activities. - Municipality of Čavle: Revitalization of Grobnik Castle;
A multimedia guide will be developed for the renovated Grobnik Castle, featuring a guided tour of the castle and presentation of its history and interesting facts. The multimedia guide will also include narrated stories about significant persons and events, with corresponding illustrations, videos and AR visualizations, 3D mapping on the walls and ceilings and an interactive info kiosk that will be installed in the gallery.
PARTNERS
Project partners are cities and municipalities forming the Urban Agglomeration of Rijeka:
CITY OF RIJEKA, project coordinator
CITY OF KASTAV
CITY OF KRALJEVICA
CITY OF OPATIJA
MUNICIPALITY OF ČAVLE
MUNICIPALITY OF KLANA
MUNICIPALITY OF KOSTRENA
MUNICIPALITY OF LOVRAN
MUNICIPALITY OF MOŠĆENIČKA DRAGA
MUNICIPALITY OF VIŠKOVO
RIJEKA TOURIST BOARD
BUDGET
Project Value: HRK 76,328,201.95
EU Funding Contribution: HRK 36,369,926.74
CO-FINANCING MECHANISM:
Structural Funds – European Regional Development Fund – Operational Program “Competitiveness and Cohesion 2014–2020”, Integrated Territorial Investments (ITI) mechanism
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
City of Rijeka Department of Culture
Korzo 16, Rijeka
Tel: 385 51 209 555
E-mail: psb@rijeka.hr