Press
In Vodnjan or, how some of the locals call it, Dignano, a cute little town close to Pula which to this day kept its medieval look, culture and art enthusiast will find numerous interesting sights and landmarks.
In the center of Vodnjan, there's the Ecomuseum which has a special story because, with its permanent exhibition and genuine products it ''sees as its calling the raising of awarness of the values of the local community's identity through education, conservation and interpretation of local, natural and cultural landmarks.''
Volunteers from France, Italy and Spain contribute to the Ecomuseum's work as a part of an EVS project. Intercultural dialogue and networking with other european cities and rural is strongly encouraged and through the volunteers, Vodnjan will tell its story abroad from a first person view.
The story grows from day to day and the association counts around 300 members. Even though they foster tradition, they don't run away from technology. On the contrary, as Dino, the association's president, says, his biggest wish is that the world keeps on developing because in that way the tradition and cultural heritage become even more valuable. In today's world, where everything is made out of plastic, a smile may have a bigger value than any technological advancement.
Enter Istrian de Dignan – Ecomuseum, a non-profit association created in Vodnjan to preserve and promote traditional resources of the region. In 2016, they received funding from the Ministry of Tourism for a project intending to establish a network of accommodation providers and agriculturists from Vodnjan. Various local businesses have united in order to create a unique tourist product, branding their small town as an attractive destination..
On the 4th of May 2016, the association ISTARSKO – Ekomuseum from Vodnjan and the City of Vodnjan have signed the contracts for financial backing of the association's projects, which shows the importance and quality of projects which the association runs as a part of its work.
On the 4th of May 2016, the association ISTARSKO – Ekomuseum from Vodnjan and the City of Vodnjan have signed the contracts for financial backing of the association's projects, which shows the importance and quality of projects which the association runs as a part of its work. From the culture priority area the City of Vodnjan secured 6,000,00kn from the budget for financing programmes ''Poetry book Sfisse/fessure spiragli'', 15.000,00kn for the execution of the ''2. Year of Valorisation of Tradititions'' manifestation and 10.000,00kn for the execution of the ''Development of Ecomusem - traditional Istrian products and crafts'' programme. From the ''Agriculture'' priority area, 40.000,00kn for the backing of the didactic farm project has been secured from the City of Vodnjan's budget.
THE 2nd EDITION OF THE ''VALORIZATION OF TRADITIONS'' HAS STARTED
The association ISTARSKO – Ecomuseum from Vodnjan, Istrian de Dignan, held on Friday 29th January at the Open University a public presentation of its yearly programme and projects for the year 2016 with the goal of actively involving the local community in its activities. The association's programme, as has been pointed out by its representatives Dino Babić, president of the association, Bernardina Hlevnjak Pastrovicchio, the association's secretary and Maira Rumac, the Ecomuseum's director, is focused on 3 areas: culture, tourism and agriculture. A big emphasis is put on the touristic segment, within which the association will place on the European market touristic programmes realized through cooperation with all local private renters, producers and wine and oil tasting rooms to attract the biggest possible number of tourists to Vodnjan and transform it into a year-long tourist destination.