1st Festival of European Culture and Languages

Tourism plays a crucial role in shaping Europe’s cultural and economic landscape, yet it often leads to challenges such as overtourism and the oversimplification of urban narratives. Many cities, particularly those in border regions, experience a reduction of their complex histories into easily marketable stories, obscuring the intricate historical, anthropological, and political dynamics that define them.

This festival critically examines these issues by using Trieste, a city deeply influenced by its border identity, as a case study. Participants will explore the city as “cruisers,” much like the hundreds of tourists arriving daily, but with a critical perspective. Through guided explorations and discussions, they will analyze what is made visible in heritage narratives and what remains hidden, uncovering the contested and layered nature of urban identity.

Designed as a Blended Intensive Program (BIP), the festival moves beyond traditional lecture-based formats, encouraging students to engage actively in interdisciplinary and performative restitutions of their findings. The goal is to challenge conventional representations of heritage and promote a deeper, more nuanced understanding of how history and identity are constructed, particularly in border regions.

Universities are invited to select students for participation by 30 April 2025.

Read the full text of the call (pdf file, 96 KB)