Vibo Valentia project joins European Year of the Normans 2027

The project ‘The Normans and Tuna Fishing in the Mediterranean’ has been recognized as part of the ‘MILLENIUM – 2027, European Year of the Normans’ program. This initiative is promoted by the Normandy Region to commemorate the thousandth anniversary of the birth of William the Conqueror.

Organized by the Archeoclub d’Italia (Vibo Valentia branch), the program is scheduled to begin in February 2027 at the Tonnara di Bivona. The project aims to integrate Vibo Valentia and Calabria into a broader European cultural framework that traces the lasting impact of Norman expansion from Normandy and the British Isles to the Mediterranean.

A central component of the initiative will be an international conference featuring scholars and researchers discussing maritime activities, the evolution of tuna fisheries, and the role of marine resources in medieval Mediterranean societies. Additionally, the program will include educational activities designed for schools to teach students about local history through archaeology and maritime heritage.