A Journey into the Heart of the Region

The DIVA project aims to promote sustainable development in the region of Berat by combining environmental protection with the enhancement of cultural heritage. Its goal is to create a balance between economic growth and resource preservation, making Berat a model of innovation and sustainability.

The landscape of Berat constitutes a heritage of exceptional value. It is not only the city that is protected, but the entire surrounding ecosystem: the centuries-old olive trees, the vineyards, the variety of plants and animals, the landforms, and the natural cycles that shape everyday life.
This biodiversity, together with traditional crops, represents an intrinsic and irreplaceable value of the territory.

As architect Guccione emphasized, “the olive trees, the vines, and the way they grow are part of Berat’s landscape identity and add a value that must be taught and passed on.”
From this perspective, IDVA aims not only to catalogue the material or natural heritage but to promote an educational approach—to make the population aware of its territorial richness, because preservation begins above all with shared knowledge.

This vision aligns with international experiences such as the Olive Grove Landscapes of Andalusia (UNESCO Tentative List, 2017), the European vineyard landscapes studied by M.C. Porcal-Gonzalo (Exploring the heritage dimension of vineyard landscapes, 2023), and the agro-pastoral landscape of Causses and Cévennes (France, UNESCO World Heritage, 2011).
In all these cases, the combination of traditional agriculture, biodiversity, and material culture is recognized as a defining element of territorial identity. Berat offers an authentic Mediterranean and Balkan expression of this connection, still alive in its landscape and daily practices.

Strategically, Berat is located in a position that facilitates access and connection with other key areas, making it an ideal hub for the dissemination of sustainable development initiatives.
Symbolically, its rich history and culture act as catalysts for innovation, promoting a balance between past and future.

The Municipality of Berat manages a diverse territory that combines urban, rural, and mountainous areas.
This variety allows for the testing of a multi-level digital governance model, adaptable to different contexts and valuable as a reference for other local administrations.
The willingness of the municipal administration and local institutions to actively collaborate makes it possible to carry out a comprehensive operational testing of the DIVA system.

The Osum River, Mount Tomorr, and the rural landscapes of Skrapar and Poliçan provide an ideal environment for testing the environmental, tourism, and agro-rural indicators of the IDVA database.
The project aims to develop analytical and digital tools that enable conscious and sustainable tourism management, enhancing not only museum assets but also productive landscapes, nature trails, agricultural activities, and local traditions.

The tourism promotion proposed by DIVA is therefore integrated and multidimensional: it combines architectural, environmental, and cultural heritage into a coherent territorial narrative capable of enhancing local identities and encouraging community participation.

The choice of Berat also carries a methodological value: the work carried out here will serve as a (national) prototype for the application of the IDVA model in other Albanian regions.
The integration of heritage, environment, governance, and community creates the conditions for intelligent and replicable territorial development based on knowledge, sensitivity, and technology.