On 15 November 2022, the online Mid term conference of the TEMPUS project entitled Parallel World of Adriatic Ports – Places, Languages, Symbols and Regulations was held. The conference for Rijeka's partners was monitored at the premises of the City of Rijeka.
The guiding thread of this conference was the reality of the port as a place that is both permanent and changeable: free zones, where special rules and laws apply, where fixed, material, stable elements coexist with elements that constantly move and create intangible value. One example is the signs and language outside the language created among the seamen: A lingua franca made up of common symbols. Port heritage, which is often neglected, offers many opportunities for interpretation and presentation, primarily to local communities that can build on it and create new ventures and new values, even indirectly, deriving from a revived sense of local pride and identity.
Presentations were held by Italian and Croatian experts and the participants of the online conference were first welcomed by the project manager Mr Antonio Occhiuzzi (ISTITUTO PER LE TECNOLOGIE DELLA COSTRUZIONE - CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHE-ICT_CNR). Then Mrs. Natlija Adžić from the Joint Secretariat Italy-Croatia on the perspective of the Adriatic Sea. The cultural and creative industry, as pilot actors for the valorisation of heritage, was presented by Ms. Lorenadan Modugnu from ITC_CNR, University of Venice, on Metamorphic relationship between geographical context – Nautical design and port structure was presented by Mr Ugo Pizzarello. The topic Sea as a Path – Intangible Maritime Heritage without Borders was presented by Prof. Joško Božanić and from the University of Bologna, the topic Symbolism in Adriatic Boats and Sails: Mr Stefano Medas presented the antique features in traditional maritime affairs. From the partner institution CERTIMAC, Ms. Barbara Bezzi presented the topic Knowledge of the history of urban port cities enabled by digital storytelling: the WaVE project. In the end, two themes of Rijeka's partners followed, namely from the Maritime and History Museum of the Croatian Littoral, Mr Luka Stršek presented the topic of Possibilities of collecting, interpreting and presenting port heritage, and from the City of Rijeka Mr Ivan Šarar presented the Experiences of the City of Rijeka: use of the port and port heritage as a temporary stage.
