Agricultural Heritage Systems and Landscape Perception among Tourists. The Case of Lamole, Chianti (Italy)

Abstract

The Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) program, promoted by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), recognizes the multifunctional role of agricultural heritage systems. Traditional terraced landscapes represent important touristic destinations, and Chianti is one of the most well-known areas of Italy for rural tourism. The high-quality landscape of Lamole, consisting of forests and terraced agricultural areas, is included in the Italian National Register of Historical Rural Landscapes thanks to local farmers who recently restored the traditional landscape, considering it important both for tourism and product quality. The main aim of this research was to investigate, using anonymous questionnaires, whether tourists are aware of the characteristics of the Lamole landscape in comparison with other parts of Chianti. Results show that tourists clearly express their preference for the traditional landscape, which is comprised of a mosaic of agricultural patches with dry-stone terraces and forests, and that the level of landscape diversification is similar to 180 years ago. As tourism is a major resource, public institutions should support farmers in preserving the traditional landscape, investing in paths and information, as requested by tourists. The methodology has proved to be useful for addressing local planning, and to help farmers to achieve sustainable development in well-known touristic rural areas.

Integration of Abandoned Lands in Sustainable Agriculture: The Case of Terraced Landscape Re-Cultivation in Mediterranean Island Conditions

“…National policies are targeted on preserving such agricultural heritage sites around the world, but also promote them as touristic attractions, which maintain their traditional and historical character [73,74]. A survey on terraced landscape perception in the Chianti region (Italy) showed that tourists clearly prefer visiting a traditional landscape, which is comprised of a mosaic of agricultural patches with dry-stone terraces and forests [75]. In Greece the majority of island terraces are neglected and only part-time farmers acknowledge the productive, ecological, aesthetic and historical value of terraces, although terrace farming still remains hard-work.…”

A Novel Approach to Bridging Physical, Cultural, and Socioeconomic Indicators with Spatial Distributions of Agricultural Heritage Systems (AHS) in China

“…This is beneficial as an investment in the mid to long term for the local communities, also because it takes into account the sustainable development goals as defined by the United Nations. Analogously to the Qingtian Rice-Fish Co-culture system, the successful GIAHS cases in the world have had similar situations by raising prices of distinctive agricultural products to drive local economic development, rural community construction, and cultural inheritance, such as Sado's Satoyama in Harmony with Japanese Crested Ibis in Japan [16], the agriculture system in Chiloé Island of Chile [17,18], the agroforestry heritage systems in the mountain oases of Tunisia [19], and the traditional terraced landscapes in Chianti of Italy [20].…”

The Scarecrow as Part of Polish Rural Cultural Landscapes

“…People care about the changing landscape. A survey in Lamole, Chianti (Italy) demonstrated that tourists strongly preferred a traditional landscape consisting of a mosaic of fields with dry-stone terraces and forests, and that the landscape diversification was similar to that from 180 years ago [59]. For Tuscany (Italy), the landscape is the fundamental value from the cultural, economic, environmental, and social perspective [60].…”