An important meeting of the mayors of the municipalities involved in the Sea and Tiaris project took place on 7 December 2023 at the Grado Town Hall. This public-private partnership aims to develop the area and enhance its unique features. During the meeting, the mayors reviewed the cooperation strategy and outlined future goals. The meeting was chaired by the Special Commissioner of the Municipality of Grado, Augusto Viola.
The Sea and Tiaris project aims to enhance two fundamental aspects of the area: its agricultural tradition and professionalism, and its offering in tourism, culture, history, nature, and food and wine. The Municipality of Grado, as the lead municipality of the project, gathered the mayors of the 9 partner municipalities, including Cervignano del Friuli, Terzo di Aquileia, Aquileia, Ruda, Fiumicello Villa Vicentina, Staranzano, San Canzian d’Isonzo, and Turriaco. The common goal is to improve and expand the offering through a network covering the entire area, promoting sustainable development and raising awareness among citizens and tourists. During the meeting, the progress achieved so far was presented and the next steps were discussed.
“This is a project that integrates and connects various territories, public and private entities. This synergy represents a huge project wealth. During the coordination meeting of the 9 involved municipalities, we had the opportunity to update each other on the progress of the works. If we manage to successfully complete this experience by 2024, it could be a starting point to continue enhancing the territory through access to regional funds. Grado plays a key role as the lead municipality of the project, bringing to the table the riches of all territories and making them a common factor. It is a new but necessary experience, as Grado is not only a tourist location with beaches and spas, but also includes the lagoon and the hinterland. Similarly, other municipalities need a city like Grado, which projects itself internationally as a major tourist destination. This integration of different territories is a resource that is exploited to achieve a common goal. During the meeting, we were able to appreciate the value of teamwork and intend to continue on this path. Promotional events involving the entire area will be organized to highlight its potential. It is a territory that we must love, value, and preserve,” stated Special Commissioner Augusto Viola at the opening of the proceedings.
From March to September 2024, along the paths of the strategy, periodic events will involve agricultural businesses and accommodation and catering facilities, in collaboration with associations and partner companies. Awareness-raising events at schools are also planned, organized by the GO GAS Association of Staranzano and AIAB PRO BIO.
There will also be inaugural events for facilities planned by the strategy, such as Strassoldo, Terzo, Fiumicello, and Fossalon. Additionally, a major international event is scheduled that will unfold over several days and will include an event dedicated to promoting silk worms/mulberries and silk routes, in collaboration with the Council of Europe.
“In Cervignano del Friuli we have completed the renovation of the holiday home in Strassoldo Village. This building will be used as an exhibition space and information point with the aim of promoting not only Strassoldo and Cervignano but also the entire territory of the lower Friulian plain from Cervignano to Grado. From Palmanova through Aquileia to Grado, we intend to exploit the network of cycling paths that we are activating in the territory,” commented Andrea Balducci, Mayor of Cervignano del Friuli.
The Mayor of Staranzano, Riccardo Marchesan, expressed his support for the project, highlighting the importance of creating a safe cycling network to facilitate travel and tourism in the region: “In the context of the Sea and Tiaris project, our aim is to create a cycling network that connects the central part of the country with the coast. We are actively working in this direction, trying to connect locations such as San Canzian, Ronchi, Trieste Airport, and Monfalcone with a cycling network where everyone can pedal safely and securely. We have always believed in this project and its realization will allow us to promote a slow lifestyle, favoring sustainable mobility and using bicycles as a means of transport. In Staranzano’s territory lies the Isonzo River Mouth Regional Nature Reserve, which will be linked to cycling areas. This will also bring benefits from a tourism perspective.”
The Mayor of Ruda, Franco Lenarduzzi, spoke about important goals: “We believe that the Sea and Tiaris project is able to take into account the complexity of our territory, which extends from land to sea through the lagoon, and all its characteristics. This project will allow us to create a complete network of offerings for the future, both from a tourism and cultural perspective. Moreover, it represents an opportunity to establish relationships with the business world that today needs to regain trust in public administrations, especially at a local level. This initiative is generally positive for the network that is being created and must continue even beyond the processes activated with this project. Today we have analysed the progress of works and will continue on this path, looking for new resources and adding further planning.”
“The goal of the Municipality of Terzo d’Aquileia is to enhance a significant historic building for our community—the former town hall—a Liberty-style building that we manage to restore and make available to the community and associations. This is a fundamental point within the Sea and Tiaris strategy, which involves engaging and enhancing small rural communities such as Terzo di Aquileia. We plan other two small interventions: enhancing
the cycling path with an exchange point for cyclists and improving access to the river from the town square with a slide for canoes. We would like to work on these projects in the near future. Today was an opportunity to discuss with other administrations; there is great harmony among us. We must continue to work in synergy, connecting with centres like Grado and Aquileia; making tourists understand that
the surrounding territory is of great value and authenticity—offering great development opportunities also for those living in these areas,” concluded Francesco Contin, Deputy Mayor of Terzo d’Aquileia.
