OPENING SITE VISIT – DAY 1 – 28 October 2025

With the Opening Site Visit on 28 and 29 October 2025, project partners and transfer partners spent two days in Prato dedicated to inspiration and exchange, animated by conversations, shared visions, and creative energy. Projects become truly effective when people meet, exchange perspectives, and bring their experiences to the same table.

Morning – Project Partners and Transfer Partners Workshop

The morning of Day 1 began with a warm welcome at the Museo del Tessuto di Prato, followed by partner introductions and an overview of the EPIC framework and work packages. This session provided a valuable opportunity to align objectives, share knowledge, and activate new ideas for collaboration.

Moments like these remind us that the true strength of EPIC lies in people, in the ability to learn from one another, and in transforming local experiences into shared value at the European level.

Afternoon – TIPO Tour

One of EPIC’s key objectives is to transform industrial tourism by enhancing the city’s manufacturing heritage through immersive and engaging experiences.

During the afternoon of the first day, the transfer partners and project partners explored the textile heart of Prato through the TIPO Tour “From Recycled Fibres to Sustainable Fashion.”
From Comistra to Nova Fides and Rifò, the tour offered a journey through tradition, creativity, and sustainability, revealing how recycled fibres are transformed into garments that tell the story of the district’s industrial heritage and its commitment to a greener future.

Evening – TIPO Experience

Sharing Prato’s industrial tourism experience means discovering a city where manufacturing heritage becomes a living, engaging narrative.

The first day of the Opening Site Visit concluded at the historic Lanificio Ricceri, where textiles met music in a truly unique atmosphere. After visiting the Textile Historical Archive—a treasure trove of sample books, memories, and know-how of the district—the Alta Madera trio enveloped the audience in sounds weaving together South American roots and European jazz.

OPENING SITE VISIT – DAY 2 – 29 October 2025

The Opening Site Visits took place on 28 and 29 October: two days of discussion and networking, featuring presentations and group activities that allowed project partners and transfer partners to align in preparation for the next steps of the EPIC project.

Morning – Project Partners and Transfer Partners Workshop

The second day opened with a strong focus on collaboration, fostering an exchange of perspectives to further explore the vision and objectives of the EPIC project.
Project partners and transfer partners worked closely with the Transfer Expert and the Innovation Actions Expert in an intensive and highly participatory session.

Following presentations by the City of Bilbao, the City of Miskolc, and the City of Pilsen, the working group focused on the transfer framework to review the EPIC approach, align processes, and define the first milestones of the project timeline.
The Give & Take session further energized the discussion, encouraging the exchange of ideas, challenges, and practices to be adapted or replicated.

A focused and stimulating start to Day 2, reinforcing our shared EPIC journey.

Afternoon – TIPO Tour

EPIC promotes a new way of staying connected to Prato—beyond seasons and beyond the most frequented routes. It is not simply about visiting the city, but about truly experiencing it in an authentic and engaging way.

For this reason, Day 2 of the Opening Site Visits concluded with a guided tour that led the transfer partners to discover two iconic landmarks of the city: the Castello dell’Imperatore and the Museo di Palazzo Pretorio. A journey through history that strengthens the connection with Prato and its cultural heritage.