In the heart of Istria, Academia Libera Histriensis promotes permaculture, education for sustainable development, the preservation of old handcrafts, and the mindful use of new technologies.
In the rolling hills of Istria, in the quiet village of Bale, there is a place where the memory of the past meets the vision of a sustainable future. Its name is Academia Libera Histriensis —and it’s much more than an educational project. It’s a living laboratory of regeneration, culture, and community.
A dream born among stone alleys
Academia Libera Histriensis was officially founded in 2019, but its roots go deeper—into the shared dreams of educators, artisans, activists and travelers. All moved by the same question:
“How can we live in harmony with the land, preserving ancient knowledge while cultivating new ways of connection?”
The place chosen for this experiment is Bale, an Istrian village made of stone houses and deep silences. Here, among walls that whisper centuries of stories, the association began to build relationships, launch projects, and shape spaces where change could bloom.
The garden bringing life back to the city
In the heart of Rovinj, one of Croatia’s most visited tourist destinations, an abandoned piece of land has come back to life through Campolongo—an urban permaculture garden created by Academia Libera.
There are no decorative flower beds here, but rather miniature ecosystems cultivated using permaculture principles. It’s a garden and a classroom all at once, where children, locals, and travelers learn how to care for the soil, water, and the cycles of life.
Campolongo is both a political and poetic act. It proves that even in the heart of the city, it’s possible to grow biodiversity, nurture relationships, and imagine a new economy of care.
A community center taking root
In Bale, Academia Libera is slowly giving shape to a concrete dream: the creation of a Center for Sustainable Development—a physical space where ideas, hands, and projects can come together.
This is an open space for the local community, designed to host workshops, summer courses, conferences, and informal gatherings around craft, music, and co-creation. A hub for those who want to experience communal living, rural regeneration, and learning by doing.
Though still in development, the center already acts as a beacon for anyone searching for alternatives to urban lifestyles—those who long to rebuild authentic connections with place and people.
Festival of Ancient Crafts
Each year, the streets of Bale fill with sounds, scents, and timeless gestures. It happens during the Festival of Ancient Crafts, organized by Academia Libera to preserve and celebrate Istria’s artisanal traditions.
It’s not a folkloric show. It’s an act of transmission. Master artisans demonstrate how to work with wood, ceramics, and wool. Visitors are not spectators, but apprentices. Children and adults learn with their hands, rediscovering the value of slow time, of learning through mistakes, of imperfect beauty.
In a world that forgets quickly, this festival is a living memory—a promise that ancient knowledge still has the power to guide the future.
Cultural and urban self-sufficiency
Academia Libera doesn’t just speak about environmental sustainability. It speaks of cultural self-sufficiency—the capacity of a community to generate meaning, value, and beauty from within.
Whether it’s cultivating an urban garden, renovating a space with natural materials, or organizing a workshop for youth, every action holds the same principle: to be an active part of transformation, not a passive consumer.
Self-sufficiency here is daily, concrete—but also symbolic. It’s a response to the emptiness of modern cities. An invitation to rediscover the power of proximity, community, and doing things together.
How to take part
Academia Libera welcomes anyone who feels the desire to contribute. You can join as a volunteer, take part in workshops, co-create events—or simply visit Bale and let yourself be inspired.
The project is constantly evolving, and every new energy can become part of the journey. No degrees required. Just curiosity, respect, and a deep willingness to learn and engage.
In a Nutshell
Academia Libera Histriensis is a community-rooted association born in Bale, in the heart of Istria. It promotes projects around sustainable education, urban permaculture, and community regeneration. Through urban gardens, artisan festivals, educational spaces, and moments of connection, it weaves a fabric where culture, Nature, and people intertwine.
A place that doesn’t aim to teach, but to invite. To slow down. To show up. To remember. To imagine—together—a future that is already present.
By Valentina Bracciodieta