Hidden Mediterranean features five Mediterranean destinations in four countries – Italy, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine – that share common values and the desire to introduce travelers to the less-known attractions of their cultural, natural and historical heritage. The experiences and itineraries offered by Hidden Mediterranean are based on the concept of sustainable tourism, which involves a constant exchange between host communities, travelers and places, with responsibility towards the environment at the core. Hidden Mediterranean is a product of CROSSDEV – Cultural Routes for Sustainable Social and economic Development in Mediterranean – a project co-funded by the European Union through the ENI CBC MED Programme. Drawing inspiration from the experience of the Council of Europe's Cultural Routes, such as the Phoenicians Route and Iter Vitis, CROSSDEV has turned sustainable tourism into a tool for the socio-economic development of five selected areas of the Mediterranean, which are less-known but nevertheless have a rich history, culture and amazing natural and architectural heritage. The five new sustainable tourism destinations selected within the CROSSDEV framework and presented on this site now offer a real opportunity for income and sustainable growth to the local communities. The five destinations are: Via Selinuntina in Italy, Umm Qais and Aqaba in Jordan, the Jabal Moussa Biosphere Reserve in Lebanon, and the Palestinian Heritage Trail in Palestine. *** Co-funded by the ENI CBC MED Programme Lead Beneficiary: CISP
Key information
Acronym: CROSSDEV
Full title: Cultural Routes for Sustainable Social and economic Development in Mediterranean Countries: Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine
Implementation period: 2019 to 2023
Total budget: € 2.5 millions
EU contribution: € 2.2 millions
Project co-financing: 10%.
Partners: Società Cooperativa Culture (CoopCulture, Italy), JUST - Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST, Jordan), Association for the Protection of Jabal Moussa (APJM, Lebanon), The Royal Marine Conservation Society of Jordan (JREDS - Jordan), Palestinian Heritage Trail (PHTrail, Palestine), Ministry of Culture (MIC, Italy)