High above the shimmering Adriatic, the Španjola Fortress has long stood as a silent sentinel over Herceg Novi in Montenegro. With its origins dating back to the 15th century, it has weathered empires, wars, and revolutions — but not the slow erosion of time. Once a powerful stronghold and later a WWII prison, Španjola had become a symbol of faded glory: cracked walls, collapsed roofs, and centuries of heritage at risk of being forgotten.

Thanks to the IPA South Adriatic Programme and the Creativity strategic project, Španjola is no longer a relic, but a rebirth in progress. With a shared investment of €4.8 million, partners from Montenegro, Italy, and Albania are transforming the fortress into a dynamic International Creative Hub. Restoration work carefully blends heritage preservation with green and digital innovation: translucent polycarbonate replaces concrete, while artisan methods meet modern energy and utility upgrades.

But the real transformation is social and cultural. Španjola will become a space for artists, makers, youth, and communities — hosting exhibitions, workshops, residencies, and collaborative projects that turn tourism into a sustainable, creative engine of local development.

The Results: A Stronghold of Culture, Jobs, and Cooperation

• • A restored heritage site turned into a creative and tourist landmark
• • New economic opportunities for local businesses and cultural operators
• • A cross-border model of sustainable regeneration, connecting Italy, Montenegro, and Albania
• • A stronger cultural identity for Herceg Novi — and a shared European future in the making

Španjola is more than a monument. It’s a message: that even forgotten places can be reborn — not just as sites of the past, but as hubs of possibility. Together, we are not only preserving heritage, but building a creative, connected, and sustainable South Adriatic.

Discover more about the project HERE