The village of Duino has been the home of UWC Adriatic for over 40 years. Over the decades, students, staff and local residents have come together through volunteering, cultural events, shared spaces and everyday encounters.
One of the College’s principal buildings in the village is the former Hotel Ples – since 1994 the home of many generations of students as well as classrooms and other College activities. As with most of the College’s properties, the former Hotel Ples is owned by the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia and made available for the use of UWC Adriatic.
In October 2026 the gardens of the historic hotel were opened to students, residents and visitors – Ples Park for Peace – creating a shared space for the whole community to enjoy. At its heart is the Peace Path, built from local marmo di Aurisina. The renewal of the park was made possible by alumnus Darren Huston (AD 1983–85), together with the vision and support of the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, the Comune di Duino Aurisina, the Comunella di Duino and the village’s local community.
Ples Park for Peace is intended as a shared space for UWC Adriatic students, local residents and visitors, offering everyone the opportunity to enjoy the renewed gardens and discover the Peace Path at its heart. In this way, the park extends the long-standing relationship between the College and the village by creating a space open to the wider community. Ples Park Signage Final The park’s opening hours are currently being defined and will be announced on this page as soon as they are confirmed.
Peace is built by people: through relationships, encounters, understanding and the choices each of us makes.
The Peace Path invites the worldwide UWC Adriatic community — alumni, parents, friends, supporters and neighbours in Duino — to leave a message of peace for those who will walk through this park in the years ahead. The path is made of hundreds of stones that will together form a collective testimony across countries, cultures, languages and generations.
Each stone will include your name, College years where applicable and home country, alongside your personal message – ideally a short reflection on peace, a dedication or a message about Duino. Messages are welcome in any language.
Suggested minimum donation
Thanks to a cost-covering donation, 100% of your gift will go towards the Endowment Scholarships.
To preserve the simplicity and beauty of the path, we suggest a maximum of approximately 30 characters for personal messages. All inscriptions will require approval by UWC Adriatic before they are permanently engraved.
The Peace Path is also a path towards the future. Donations made through the campaign will create new perpetual Endowment scholarships for UWC Adriatic — transforming hundreds of individual messages into a renewing legacy for the next generations.
Long after each of us has left Duino, these words will remain. And the scholarships they create will continue to bring new generations of students here, receiving education towards peace and a sustainable future.
