11-13/03/2025, Coimbra (PT) CHARME interregional meeting
From March 11 to 13, the Municipality of Coimbra (PT) hosted the in-person interregional meeting of the CHARME project - digital Cultural Heritage Activity acRoss Multiple European regions, welcoming a delegation of 33 European representatives from the partner cities of Pavia (IT), Iasi (RO), Poitiers (FR), Turku (FI), and Lviv (UA).
On March 11 the interregional meeting opened with participation in the presentation of the SHIFT Coimbra project (EUI Programme), which aims to combine tourism with technology and sustainability. The presentation served as an inspiring moment regarding the connection between digital technologies, cultural heritage, and tourism development, fostering potential learning exchanges.
The CHARME group was then guided on a visit to the Convento de São Francisco, Cultural and Congress Centre: a good practice that shows how a historic monument can embrace a new life and a new approach without losing its main architectural features.
In the afternoon, the 1st study visit took place at the municipal museum centers. The Almedina Tower was the main medieval watchtower over the entire walled city, whose foundations date back to the time of Islamic occupation. It is now home to the Walled City Centre, an interpretive center that provides an insight into Coimbra's medieval history. Through an interactive system, composed of a scale model and a canvas projection, visitors can visualize the medieval walls and the main religious and military power structures of the city.
On March 12 the 2nd study visit took place in the morning: the group was guided through the Monastery of Santa Cruz de Coimbra and learnt about the “Santa Cruz Project: 3D Digital Reconstruction of the Monastery of Santa Cruz de Coimbra in 1834” project.
Founded in 1131, it was the most influential monastery in the city and contributed to the country's cultural, economic and political development. The project aims to visualize the monastery in the year of the beginning of its demolition (1834), to collect and systematize documentary and iconographic information on the monastery’s architectural history while digitally reconstructing the complex and some of its lost artistic elements using 3D technology.
In the afternoon, the group visited the University of Coimbra, the oldest in the country and one of the oldest in the world, and made the 3rd study visit to the Science Museum of the University of Coimbra, which houses the oldest Portuguese collection of natural history and scientific instruments. The Museum is an interactive space aiming to provide visitors of all ages with an engaging environment to discover science. The CHARME team had the opportunity to learn about the 3D scanning project of the African masks collection, about 150 artifacts. This initiative has improved the records and information stored in the inventory, as well as enhanced public dissemination of this collection.
On 13 March the last day of activities started with the project management board meeting to monitor the 2nd semester activities and to plan those of the 3rd.
Subsequently the thematic workshop "Cultural Heritage in the Digital Era: Documentation and Communication Strategies to Foster Culture as a Value Platform for Tourism" was held, led by the advisory partner. All partners contributed to the discussion on the connection between digital technologies, cultural heritage, and tourism development, also considering inclusive engagement of visitors, the general public, youth, and people with disabilities.
In the afternoon, the 4th study visit took place at TUMO – Center for Creative Technologies, an innovative and collaborative educational project, which offers young peole free quality training. In this collaborative educational space, they can learn, through practice and the use of new technologies, to create projects in fields such as programming, animation, game development, graphic design, cinema, robotics, music, and photography.
The Coimbra event concluded with the closing session at the Municipality of Coimbra. The interventions of the Mayor of Coimbra, the Vice-Rector for International Relations and Alumni of the University of Coimbra, the Head of the Culture Department of the Municipality of Pavia (lead partner) and the representative of the Regional Coordination and Development Commission of the Center (policy authority) highlighted the importance of sharing experiences and the ongoing mutual learning process for deepening international cooperation, which is considered fundamental for all the Municipalities and organizations involve.
The interregional meeting in Coimbra involved a large delegation from the CHARME community, actively engaging all members: an inspiring experience that allowed the project to take a significant step forward.
