UNDER – Underground Navigators Exploring and Revealing is a European project conceived by ACe20 and coordinated by the Municipality of San Giljan, Malta. The initiative combines cultural tourism, vocational training, and international exchange, with the goal of rediscovering the hidden soul of European cities by starting from underground spaces—hypogeal environments, tunnels, cellars, and forgotten architectures that preserve memories, identities, and stories often overlooked by mainstream tourism.
The project offers an alternative to mass tourism by promoting a slow, conscious, and participatory exploration. For UNDER, visiting a city means experiencing it in depth—listening to its local voices, observing its less visible details, and engaging in dialogue with those who truly know and inhabit the place. At the heart of the experience lie authenticity and active involvement, in a journey that blends learning with discovery.
The project includes workshops, interactive labs, and immersive experiences that combine theory and practice. Historians, archaeologists, local storytellers, cultural operators, and citizens guide participants through a training process that brings value back to places of collective memory. Storytelling thus becomes a powerful tool for cultural and social enrichment.
UNDER is structured in three international phases. The first will take place in Orte, Italy, from 28 to 31 May 2025, and will focus on exploring the underground Tuscia area through guided tours and historical narratives. The second phase, in Sümeg, Hungary, from 24 to 27 September 2025, will focus on traditional forms of heritage storytelling, including theatre and artisanal practices. The final stage, scheduled for March 2026 in Znojmo, Czech Republic, will explore cultural promotion through territorial marketing and digital technologies.
Funded by European programmes for adult education, the project also aims to generate a positive impact on local communities, fostering dialogue between international participants and local citizens. Ultimately, UNDER is an invitation to see Europe from a new perspective—one that is more authentic, respectful of local identities, and aware of the hidden stories that lie beneath the surface.
