Dry stone walls: a heritage to preserve and rebuild

The terraces of the Trieste coastline, bordered by traditional dry stone walls, are one of the most significant landscape features of the Miramare Biosphere Reserve. This construction technique, recognised as intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO, and dry stone structures are a symbol of cultural, landscape and natural value. For this reason, WWF AMP Miramare and the Miramare Castle Historical Museum and Park are dedicating the main event of the 2025 European Heritage Days to the rediscovery of these traditional architectures, with a focus on the art of building.

The event programme

Organised in collaboration with the Partnership for Karst Dry Stone Construction, the event will be held on Saturday 27 September from 10:00 to 14:00 and will consist of a practical and experiential workshop.

Event programme

Organised in collaboration with the Karst Dry Stone Building Partnership, the event will take place on Saturday 27 September from 10:00 to 14:00 and will consist of a practical, hands-on workshop.

The meeting will begin with a visit to the gardens of Archduke Maximilian of Habsburg, inside Miramare Park, guided by the castle staff. During the visit, the history of the area, which has recently undergone conservation work, will be recounted. In particular, the arrangement of the dry stone walls made of sandstone that define the various terraced spaces, now planted with a variety of trees, aromatic plants and flowers, will be illustrated. These interventions represent a model for future restoration activities that could be adopted throughout the karst-coastal area.

Experts from the Partnership and the WWF will talk about the characteristics of dry stone walls, traditional construction techniques and their ecological value as habitats that provide shelter for numerous animal and plant species.

The route will continue up the Nature Trail to Contovello, where participants will be welcomed by expert professionals who will lead a practical workshop on rebuilding a section of dry stone wall in limestone, typical of the Prosecco area. Participants will have the opportunity to learn how to choose the right stones and how to position them correctly to build a solid and durable wall.

Details and registration

The workshop is open to adults with a good level of physical fitness (uphill route) and families with children aged 12 and over. The event is highly practical in nature, as participants will be directly involved in the construction of the wall.

Participation is free, but places are limited. You must register using the form available at the following link: click here. Registration will only be considered complete after you have received confirmation by email from the secretariat.