Welcome to the Hidden Gems Route that takes you on a unique journey along the Adriatic coast, revealing unknown places rich with history, character, and quiet authentic beauty.

With the help of modern tools like 3D scanning, virtual reconstructions, and interactive storytelling, this route invites you on a journey along Adriatic coastlines from sunken ships to forgotten festivals, from traces of ancient ports to medieval villages highlighting sites often missed by traditional tourism. Those revealed gems are reminders of a rich, layered past now ready to be discovered through digital tools that allow visitors to step closer and feel more connected.

Your journey might begin in Ancona, where the churches by the port stand as lasting witnesses of the city’s maritime past. Their simple yet powerful architecture tells countless stories of centuries-long ties between spiritual life and the everyday experiences of sailors, merchants, and travelers. Close to Ancona inland, the hilltop village of Offagna invites you into a world of stone towers, cobbled streets, and a vibrant medieval festival that brings the region’s rich past to life each summer.

As you travel further along the coast, the city of Ravenna unveils its lesser-known underwater infrastructure. In the coastal waters surrounding the city lie mysterious submerged platforms – remnants of former ports, storage buildings, and maritime structures that gradually sank over time;

Further north, in Venezia, you’ll discover the Arsenale a powerful symbol of the Venetian Republic’s maritime dominance. This monumental system of docks, halls, and workshops was for centuries the beating heart of Venetian naval power, where fleets were built.  Even today, in its vast spaces, one can feel the pulse of centuries-old shipbuilding and maritime tradition;

In Trieste, the story unfolds like a mosaic of historical layers. Churches by the port, an ancient Roman arch, the old maritime dam, and remarkably well-preserved Roman baths blend together in a quiet symphony of eras, cultures, and identities;

Across the sea in Zadar, the Adriatic reveals even more. The mysterious sunken ship Mar Bianco preserves memories of maritime life, while the recently recovered iron mooring bollard tells a story of defense, trade, and the seafaring rhythm of this historic city;

The journey concludes in Dubrovnik, beneath the monumental Ponta Gate, located beside the old arsenal. The Ponta Gate stands as a striking stone passage through which, for centuries, sailors, artisans, and merchants passed, bringing life into the city’s fortified heart.

The Hidden Gems Route is not just a new touristic path but an invitation to explore, to experience, and to uncover the unknown.
Embark on a journey of discovery and let the Adriatic’s hidden gems enchant you!