The project Vrsar Amaretti – a traditional hazelnut-based dessert inspired by local heritage, implemented by the Vrsar Tourist Board, was awarded 3rd place at the prestigious ECTN Awards for Sustainable Cultural Tourism 2025 in the category Wine and Gastronomy Tourism based on eno-culinary heritage preservation.
The award ceremony took place on October 2, 2025, as part of the international conference Cultural Tourism in Europe, held at the historic Astra County Library in Sibiu (Romania). Among projects from across Europe, Vrsar Amaretti were recognised for their systematic approach to the valorisation of local gastronomic heritage, innovative interpretative formats, and the active involvement of the local community in preserving and promoting this nearly forgotten traditional recipe.
The Amaretti Day event, which forms the core of the project, includes workshops, tastings, heritage storytelling, and presentations by local producers, transforming the dessert into a symbol of Vrsar’s cultural identity and tourism experience.
The ECTN Award confirms that a strategic approach to the valorisation of traditional gastronomy contributes to the development of sustainable cultural tourism, strengthens local identity, and enhances the international visibility of the destination. On behalf of the Tourist Board, the award was received by Director Dr. Klara Trošt Lesić, who highlighted the continuous efforts invested in promoting local gastronomy and heritage.
