On Wednesday, 25 September 2024, an expert meeting entitled “Vrsar Amaretti: Preserving Tradition and Innovation” was held at the premises of the Italian Community of Vrsar (Comunità degli Italiani di Orsera), as part of the Dan Amareta (Amaretti Day) event.
The meeting brought together experts from the fields of agronomy, ethnology, tourism and production, with the aim of examining Vrsar amaretti as a valuable element of local gastronomic and cultural heritage, as well as a product with significant development potential.
The programme featured the following speakers:
Dr Marin Krapac (Institute of Agriculture and Tourism), who presented research on the morphological characteristics of hazelnuts in the area of the Municipality of Vrsar
Nikolina Rusac, curator at the Ethnographic Museum of Istria, who presented the results of ethnographic research on Vrsar amaretti
Marin Maras, owner of the Imagine Spirits distillery, who outlined the development of the liqueur Amaretto di Orsera — from initial concept to final product
Dr Klara Trošt Lesić, Director of the Vrsar Tourist Board, who spoke about the revitalisation of Vrsar amaretti, visual identity development and product positioning within destination branding
Following the presentations, a panel discussion was held, moderated by Manuela Hrvatin, focusing on issues of heritage preservation, knowledge transfer and the involvement of the local community in the development of authentic gastronomic products.
The expert meeting was organised in cooperation between the Vrsar Tourist Board and the Italian Community of Vrsar, and it confirmed the importance of a systematic approach to research, protection and promotion of Vrsar amaretti as a distinctive element of local identity.
