At the official Simply the Best 2025 awards ceremony, held on April 9, 2025, in Sveti Martin na Muri Spa, the Vrsar Tourist Board received two awards among tourist destinations from across Croatia, including recognition for the Amaretti Day event in the category of Best Gourmet Event.
The Amaretti Day event was awarded as an example of a high-quality and well-conceived approach to promoting local gastronomy and heritage. Dedicated to the traditional Vrsar delicacy—hazelnut amaretti—the event brings together workshops, heritage storytelling, competitions, and local producers within a curated gourmet programme. The project has enabled the revitalisation of an almost forgotten recipe, while also introducing innovative approaches to presenting tradition, including interactive workshops and themed tasting zones.
Vrsar amaretti, distinguished from classic Italian amaretti by the use of hazelnuts as the key ingredient, represent an authentic dessert closely tied to local agricultural and cultural traditions. The event not only promotes this specific product but also strengthens local identity, fosters community cohesion, and integrates gastronomic heritage into the contemporary tourism offering.
The Simply the Best awards, presented for 16 years by the Association of Croatian Travel Agencies (UHPA) and the PUT Tourism Exchange, recognise projects that demonstrate innovation, creativity, and excellence in tourism. By embodying these values, Amaretti Day has become a symbol of the successful valorisation of Vrsar’s gastronomic identity, highlighting the importance of local products and tradition in tourism development.
Klara Trošt Lesić, Director of the Vrsar Tourist Board, stated: “We are pleased that our work and commitment have been recognised through these awards. Vrsar continues to develop its tourism offering in a thoughtful way, with a strong focus on local values, natural and cultural heritage, and collaboration with the community.”
