Italian bulids model “Batana Vanessa” to honor Adriatic maritime heritage
- by croatiaweek
- in Entertainment
Batana Vanessa (Photo: Ecomuseo Batana)
Could there be a greater tribute to European heritage projects than inspiring young people to get involved?
This is exactly what happened with Andrea Belfanti (@mudsailor), a 25-year-old ship modeler from Verona.
Through the Adriatic PorTLand Interreg Italy-Croatia project, Andrea contributed to the preservation of maritime heritage by building a model of the batana Vanessa, a traditional Croatian boat.
Andrea Belfanti (Photo: Andrea Belfanti)
The Adriatic PorTLand project connects maritime and river shipbuilding traditions across Italy and Croatia.
Led by the “House of Batana” in Rovinj-Rovigno, it involves partners such as the Municipality of Mošćenička Draga, the Ecomuseum of Mošćenička Draga, the Chair of the Čakavian Parliament, the Italian Municipality of Cesenatico and its Maritime Museum, and the TVB (Traditional Venetian Boats) association from Battaglia Terme.
The model batane Vanessa made by Andrea Belfanti (Photo: Andrea Belfanti)
Together, they organized events, regattas, and workshops, sharing best practices to integrate coastal and inland waterways into tourism.
Andrea first encountered the project at the Maritime Museum in Cesenatico, where he was captivated by traditional mainsail boats.
Eager to contribute, he introduced himself to project partners and was commissioned to build a model of the batana Vanessa. Originally built in 1962 in Cervia, Vanessa was restored in 2020 as part of the EU Arca Adriatica project. Since then, it has been used for demonstrations at maritime festivals and sailing courses.
Vanessa made her first appearance in the Rovinj Regatta as part of the Adriatic PorTLand project, sailing alongside other Rovinj boats. Andrea’s model was a symbolic tribute to this connection.
Andrea, who took up ship modeling during the pandemic, transitioned from classic ship models to focusing on traditional Adriatic and Po Valley boats.
His expertise deepened when he was asked to create a model of the Freccia Azzurra, the last “burcio” cargo boat to navigate Venice’s waterways.
He received guidance from Maurizio Ulliana, president of TVB and a partner in the Adriatic PorTLand project. This experience further fueled his passion for traditional boats, leading to his work on the batana Vanessa and an interest in Croatian shipbuilding heritage.
He showcased the Vanessa model at Model Expo Italy in Verona on March 8-9 and will present it at a workshop in Rovinj-Rovigno in October.
Batana Vanessa (left) at Model Expo Italy in Verona (Photo: Andrea Belfanti)
His participation in the Adriatic PorTLand project has opened doors to further research into traditional Croatian boats, particularly the gajeta. Andrea hopes his story will inspire other young people to engage in heritage preservation with strong support.
Project manager Nives Giuricin, director of the “House of Batana,” highlights the importance of passing down maritime heritage to younger generations.
She praises Andrea’s initiative, emphasizing that his work strengthens the cultural ties between Italy and Croatia. The batana Vanessa’s first regatta participation in Rovinj symbolizes this cross-border collaboration.
Rovinj regatta (Photo: Silvija Jacić)
Andrea’s work will continue in Rovinj-Rovigno during Children’s Week, where he will showcase the Vanessa model and other traditional Italian boats.
He will also share Vanessa’s journey, including her participation in events across Emilia Romagna, the Festival of the Sea in Orleans, regattas in Rovinj and Mošćenička Draga, and even her role in Disney’s historical comedy “Rosaline.” Through these efforts, the batana Vanessa will connect generations and preserve maritime heritage.
Renata Marušić, Communications Manager of the Interreg Italy-Croatia 2021-2027 Programme, commends the project as a model for promoting maritime heritage. It has fostered Italian-Croatian collaboration and engaged young people like Andrea in preservation efforts.
(Photo: Zoran Soldatić)
The program encourages ongoing initiatives that link cultural heritage with sustainable economic development and long-term impact.
The Adriatic PorTLand project ran for 18 months (July 1, 2023 – December 31, 2024), with a total budget of €249,670, of which 80% (€199,736) was co-financed by the Interreg Italy-Croatia program.
Partners of the Adriatic PorTLand project_foto Maritime Museum Cesenatico
More details can be found at www.italy-croatia.eu/web/adriaticportland
