Pula fortification system a new cultural-tourist product in Croatia

Gracijano Kešac, Sanja Cinkopan Korotaj, Lorena Dropulić, Ingrid Bulian 

On Tuesday, November 9, 2021, in the premises of the Tourist Board of the City of Pula, a press conference was held to present the activities and new promotional materials created within the Pula Fortification System project as a new cultural-tourist product.

This project aims to activate the huge potential of cultural heritage and through investment in sustainable use of cultural assets to increase the offer of cultural and educational content and events for the benefit of all residents of Pula, and beyond, and indirect impact on sustainable economy and tourism.

Through the realised construction works, it is evident that a significant physical change has taken place in the project scope, and until recently two completely separate spaces – Kaštel Fortress and Zero strasse underground tunnels functioned into a unique, already recognised whole.

Fort Bourgignon (Photo: Fort Pula)

The newly created environment will certainly give the long-awaited boost to create new cultural offerings, new accompanying services and a completely new potential for materialisation of numerous development opportunities in various sectors of importance for the urban area of Pula.

Today’s press conference was opened by Ingrid Bulian, Head of the Board for Spatial Planning and Environmental Protection and Lorena Dropulić, Project Manager, Board for Spatial Planning and Environmental Protection, on behalf of the City of Pula, emphasising that the “Pula fortification system project as a tourist product” is an excellent example of recognising the potential that military architecture, as part of Pula’s cultural heritage, has.

The project is an experiential basis and a positive incentive for further candidacy of projects in the field of cultural heritage given the potential that Pula has, and includes the Pula fortification system, almost inexhaustible for creating a variety of content for today’s person.

Zero strasse (Photo: Pula Fort)

“The driving force of the project is always people, their efforts and cooperation, so we should emphasise the excellent partnership between the City, PPMI and TZ Pula, where everyone plays their role professionally and dedicatedly, which is evident through the activities and results achieved so far, therefore, further benefits that will result from the end of the project implementation, and certainly during its exploitation, should not be questioned “, concluded Bulian and Dropulić.

Sanja Cinkopan Korotaj, director of the Pula Tourist Board, then addressed the audience, expressing great satisfaction with the built elevator to access the Castle and the History and Maritime Museum of Istria, which provided easier access to elderly tourists, a very important segment in tourist arrivals in Pula. So far, the Pula Tourist Board has carried out activities to create a visual identity, and a website has been created in 4 languages – https://www.pulafortcenter.com/hr – as well as a roll-up to promote the project and a permanent visual roll-up that will light up for Advent.

New souvenirs

Cinkopan Korotaj presented other planned activities such as the production of promotional material or souvenirs, the plan is to educate tourist guides about the new tourist product, while next year it is planned to promote the project in cities and bring journalists and bloggers from abroad, hire animators, to organise performances and concerts, all with the aim of promoting the new tourist product of the “Pula Fort Centre”.

Finally, Gracijano Kešac, director of the History and Maritime Museum of Istria – Museo storico e navale dell´Istria, said: “A good part of the fort and tunnel areas are well rehabilitated and protected, and their connection by elevator created a unique cultural destination. After a two-month trial run, which is behind us, we are pleased to say that this destination has shown great potential in attracting visitors.” 

(Photo: Pula Fort)

At the same time, he announced the realisation of an exhibition on Pula’s fortifications produced by the Museum, for which the exhibition elements are being made and the scenography of the space is being adjusted, as well as the preparation of multimedia, which will be an integral part of the exhibition.

Today’s press conference

The project will be included in the Advent events in Pula, so that the Visitor Centre will be conveniently equipped during Advent, and thus Pula Advent will get a new point of interest. Through this project, the Pula Tourist Board will combine historical heritage and modern technologies and enable tourists to get to know the cultural heritage in this way, which is a world trend. The primary goal is to increase the number of visitors to Kaštela, which has so far lagged behind other Pula attractions in terms of the number of visits due to its lower accessibility.

More details about the project can be found HERE