SMARTWAYS
Smart cultural heritage resources for destination management along historic routes
CULTURAL HERITAGE MEETS DIGITAL INNOVATION
SMARTWAYS is a project funded thanks to the cascade grants of the Horizon Europe project Echoes – European Collaborative Cloud for Cultural Heritage program, dedicated to enhancing cultural heritage along Europe’s historic routes.
Coordinated by the European Association Romea Strata (AERS), with the participation of AEVF – European Association of the Via Francigena Ways, GVAM Guias Interactivas SL, ARGE Pilgern in Kärnten e Turaida Museum Reserve, and will run from April 2026 to April 2027.
The project focuses its activities on the Via Francigena and the Romea Strata, making information regarding cultural points of interest more accessible, interoperable, and useful for tourism operators.
Building upon the results achieved by the previous European project rurAllure, SMARTWAYS aims to improve the management and enjoyment of cultural heritage along the pathways through innovative digital tools and easily accessible content.
DIGITAL TOOLS FOR CULTURAL DISCOVERY
Among the main expected results are the creation of interactive web maps, digital itineraries, personalized cultural guides, and new storytelling tools.
The goal is to offer travelers, tourism operators, and local communities new ways to discover these regions, deepen their knowledge of cultural heritage, and enjoy more engaging and mindful travel experiences.
Through SMARTWAYS, the Romea Strata contributes to strengthening the role of cultural routes as living infrastructures capable of connecting heritage, innovation, and local development.
The project promotes forms of slow and sustainable cultural tourism, fostering greater collaboration between territories and making European cultural heritage increasingly accessible to new generations of travelers.
More Projects:
October 2025 – May 2028
DATA4Rural
DATA4Rural promotes digital innovation in rural areas, offering tools for data collection, analysis, and management. The project strengthens the skills of institutions, local operators, and associations, improving participation and services in the territories crossed by routes like the Romea Strata.
October 2022 – September 2027
Ruralities
Ruralities works to strengthen European rural areas with innovative, sustainable, and locally-driven models. The project promotes the green transition, training in local territories, and the development of resilient communities. An initiative that also speaks to the historical routes and the communities that they cross.
February 2024 – January 2026
H.O.T – Historical Overmountain Trail
A European project dedicated to historical routes between Italy and Austria, featuring re-enactments of the cultural heritage of the Cramars and Samer peoples. Through the restoration of alpine paths, it promotes slow mobility, local memory, and sustainable tourism connected to the Romea Strata.
