2003 – 2023
In Cabras (18 – 20 October)
Twenty years of the Phoenicians’ Route
A melting pot of cultures revolving around the same large area – the Mediterranean – meet, network, and build a path of cultural and tourism sustainable development around the Phoenician civilisation, one of the greatest in history.
It is one of the most important legacies of the XVI EuroMediterranean Dialogue of the Phoenicians’ Route resulted from the three days spent in Cabras with conferences, exhibitions, meetings, roundtables, guided tours for the twentieth anniversary of the certification of the Route by the Council of Europe.
The celebration of the final day of the event in the Giants of Mont’e Prama Museum has combined territory – the Sinis, its specificities and identities – with internationality, thanks to the participation of speakers and experts from various European countries and from the other shores of the Mediterranean basin.
Thus, the theme of cultural diplomacy, representing what most unites us, has once again become strongly and urgently relevant during the peak of the Israeli-Palestinian crisis, also given the participation of a delegation from Lebanon, which has always been committed to fostering dialogue and exchange for the growth of the entire area.
During the last day, the International General Assembly of the Phoenicians’ Route – Cultural Route of the Council of Europe has taken place with the participation of its delegates who also renewed the social bodies. Most importantly, they approved the new lines of action for the next three years, including activities in favour of coastal communities (Eco museums of the Sea), new tourism strategies looking at “regenerative tourism” as an evolution of sustainability and responsible tourism and, in view of 2024, at roots tourism to recreate connections with the communities of the different diasporas of European and Mediterranean migrations.
Afterwards, the meeting – open to the public – of the XVI Euro-Mediterranean Dialogue on the Phoenicians’ Route took place: the celebratory event of the 20th Anniversary of the recognition of the Phoenicians’ Route as Cultural Route of the Council of Europe (2003-2023), in the presence of international delegations and representatives of its 15 countries and other Euro-Mediterranean Cultural Routes.
Stefano Dominioni, Executive Secretary of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes for the Council of Europe, and Director of the European Institute of Cultural Routes attended the event in Cabras as well.
“Sardinia is one of the symbols of the great Phoenician civilization. It reflects this history. The Phoenicians’ Route has been certified by the Council of Europe to give value to our shared history with exchanges, peaceful coexistence, participation, dialogue, and the rediscovery of our traditions. This is the goal of these days, which confirm everything that has been done by the network based on sustainable cultural tourism, adding values to the territories, in particular the rural ones”, Dominioni said.
The rich program of three days was therefore an important event in the heart of Sinis, bringing together peoples and cultures of three continents, united by the same mission of dialogue and cultural, economic, and social development.
The event, hosted by the Mont’e Prama Foundation, which includes the Ministry of Culture, the Sardinia Region, and the Municipality of Cabras, obtained the High Patronage of the European Parliament, the Italian Ministries of Culture, Tourism, Foreign Affairs and of International Cooperation.
“In a historical moment in which barbarism takes over in various places – Antonio Barone said, Director of the Route – the message of the Phoenicians’ Route is towards a real dialogue between populations and identities, confident that culture is an essential tool of knowledge, solidarity, awareness of everyone’s reasons for seeking peaceful solutions. By working in over one hundred territories of excellence from 15 countries, in close contact with communities, culture and tourism operators, schools, universities, young people, volunteers, not only we contribute to the improvement of the cultural and tourism offer of the destinations, but also to the creation of a strong international bond based on common origins and on the mosaic of identities that is the Mediterranean and beyond.”
STREAMING AND PHOTOS