A special relationship between Austria and the Western Balkans?
October 2, 2024
Extinguished Countries has been founded by the Italian journalist and travel writer Giovanni Vale. The idea is to propose travel guidebooks to countries that no longer exist, discovering all the things we share from our common past, which shape our current identities. In early 2020, this idea is put to the crowdfunding test. The project launches on Kickstarter and, in only three weeks, gathers the support of almost 600 people and raises over 25,000 euros. After a year of hard work, in the summer of 2021 we printed the first guidebook in the ExCo series: Republic of Venice.
Click on the video below to watch our first campaign video.
The ExCo project invites its community to delve into the concepts of identity, borders, and nations. By emphasizing our similarities and celebrating our differences, we strive to forge bridges connecting all people across the globe. To achieve this goal, we’ve employed a variety of storytelling techniques, including guidebooks, podcasts, and a curated library of thought-provoking books. These resources investigate the core principles of our project, exploring the concepts of self and other, the teachings of history, and the complexity of our identity.
In today’s world, humanity confronts myriad challenges that threaten to divide us. At ExCo, we believe that understanding the past is essential to charting a successful path forward. Through the stories of the Extinguished Countries, we gain valuable insights into what works and what doesn’t, and discover that we have much in common with our neighbors.
Our experiences have taught us that promoting sustainable tourism, protecting cultural heritage, and conducting rigorous historical research are key to building a brighter future. These principles thus inspire and guide our work.
Would you like to collaborate with us and help us build a more united world? Write us an email at explore@extinguishedcountries.con and hop on board!
