1st STECCI Conference 2025, Vienna, Day 3 (27.9.2025) Excursions and Closing Highlights

The third and final day of the 1st STECCI Conference 2025 was dedicated to excursions across Vienna, giving participants the opportunity to experience cultural heritage in practice.

Three parallel excursions were offered: a visit to the Votive Church, where attendees explored the newly opened museum and learned about recent conservation projects led by the University of Applied Arts Vienna; an excursion to Schönbrunn Palace, which provided behind-the-scenes insights into the challenges of preserving a world-famous monument while addressing the pressures of mass tourism; and a walking tour through Vienna’s historic First District, which revealed hidden gems of the city and sparked lively discussions on stone and architectural conservation, as well as the history and urban development of Vienna.

With more than 200 participants (both on-site and online) and over 35 presentations, poster and oral, covering diverse disciplines, the conference successfully fostered dialogue at the intersection of cultural heritage and climate change. Throughout, the atmosphere was both professional and welcoming, creating a genuine space for the exchange of ideas and expertise.

Although Vienna welcomed the conference with grey skies and rain, the sun appeared just in time for the final day, providing perfect conditions for the excursions and a fitting conclusion to a memorable and successful gathering.

We warmly thank all participants and look forward to the second STECCI Conference in Malta in two years’ time!