This year’s trip took an international group of young researchers - all doctoral and post-doctoral students from the Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florenz (KHI) – to Dalmatia from 20 to 28 June 2006.

The destination had been chosen so the participating researchers could study on the spot authentic examples of the varied and complex forms of cultural exchange in the Mediterranean area. The north-eastern Adriatic coast has maintained close economic and cultural ties with the Italian mainland since classical times; for a long period the coastal area had links with Byzantium and later with Venice. Its geographical location gave rise to outstanding works of art, whose at times complex lineage had caused them to be ignored for a long period by art historians; we need to rediscover their artistic ancestry.

The journey began in Ancona in Italy, where the group visited works by artists whose trail could be picked up again in the Dalmatian town of Šibenik. The same was true for one of the trip’s final destinations, Bari, whose main church San Nicola influenced church architecture in Dubrovnik. The participants also visited Zara (Zadar), Trogir, Split (the ancient Spalato with Diocletian’s Palace), Lesina and Otranto.

The trip was supported by the Friends of the KHI and was led by Dr Hannah Baader, a research assistant at the KHI, and by Professor Gerhard Wolf, the Executive Director of the KHI. Specialist expertise was provided by Dr Stanko Kokole (University of Primorska, Koper, Slovenia), winner of the Jacob Burckhardt Prize in 2004 and one of the world authorities in this field of study, and Professor Samo Stefnac (University of Ljubljana, Slovenia).

During the trip, participants were able to build on existing relationships with leading research centres in Dalmatia and Southern Italy and to make important new contacts. Academic partners included Professor Josip Belamaric (Ministry of Culture, Head of Conservation in Split) as well as the heads and staff of the historical monuments departments in Dubrovnik, Hvar and Šibenik. Moreover, new contacts were made, for example with the Department of Art History at the University of Zadar.

The trip was preceded by a meeting held at the KHI in Florence under the title “Il Mare: scambi e confini/The sea: exchange and the limits of representation”, at which international experts considered the history of the sea as both route of and barrier to exchange.