In 1432, Venetian nobleman Pietro Querini and his crew were stranded on the island Røst in Lofoten after a dramatic journey across the sea. There they were met with extraordinary hospitality by the local people. This act not only saved lives, but also laid the foundation for one of the earliest documented cultural exchanges between South and North in Europe.

The story is the starting point for Via Querinissima, an international collaboration that follows Querini's itinerary through Europe. It is also the inspiration behind the Hospitality Symposium, a new meeting point for reflection, knowledge sharing, and artistic expression.

Nordland County Library is an active partner in Via Querinissima and uses the library's values ​​to strengthen European cultural cooperation. Through initiatives such as the Hospitality Symposium, a traveling exhibition and the dissemination of Querini's account, the county library shows how libraries can contribute to promoting cultural heritage, knowledge and community - in line with both national and European values.

The Hospitality Symposium will be held for the first time in June 2026 at Røst and in Bodø. Here, participants from different countries and fields gather to explore what hospitality means – historically, philosophically, socially and politically – and how this value can strengthen community and understanding in our time.

The project is part of the work to establish Via Querinissima as an official European cultural route, and shows how the library can be an active co-creator in international cultural projects.