Cultural Landscape: Stone Towers on Mount Etna

Carullo

Russo

et al. 2016

Self Cite

Many rural coastal Mediterranean areas suffer from great anthropomorphic pressure. This is due to intensive agriculture, and construction for residential, tourism and industrial uses.The present work investigates the idea of using a landscape project in the Gulf of Gela in South Sicily to recover the dunes and the area behind them. The method used is based on the literature and will evaluate and interpret the dynamics of the landscape, so as to draw up a landscape plan, which can be used to help sustain the assets of the area, in a way, which is compatible with conserving nature. This method was tested in the LIFE11-Leopoldia project, funded by the European Union. The results of the study form part of the landscape project. This project is aimed at connecting the different productive zones in the area, protecting the natural environments and the rural historical patrimony, through combining the modern road networks with the older slower, historic infrastructure. Three different levels of landscape management are proposed: total protection (the dunes), high-level protection (the area behind the dunes where traditional agriculture is practised, buffer areas and ecological connecting areas), medium levels of protection (sustainable agriculture, green connections and ecological corridors). The key aims of the project are as follows: transversality -repairing the agricultural fabric and the relationship between the land and the sea; sustainability -recovering the environmental system and traditional activities; flexibility -agriculture with only minor environmental impact.

Section: Phase 4: Projectmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…They have cultural value as examples of past building techniques and types of lifestyle, even when they are in ruins, and thus are useful elements in a possible ecological network (Jim, 1998;Mazzino, 2002;Riguccio et al, 2015a).…”

Section: Analyses Of the Structure Of The Landscapementioning

confidence: 99%

A landscape project for the coexistence of agriculture and nature: a proposal for the coastal area of a Natura 2000 site in Sicily (Italy)

Carullo

Russo

et al. 2016

Self Cite

“…Buildings form an important element of the landscape, and in particular the large villas and wineries built since 1400. There are many historic towns and villages, archaeological and cultural sites and typical historic buildings (Riguccio et al, 2013). There are many museums, markets and popular festivals and these are an important part of the immaterial heritage of the area.…”

Section: Area Of the Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

Identifying areas suitable for wine tourism through the use of multi-criteria and geographic information system: the method and its application in the countryside around Mount Etna (Sicily)

Tomaselli

Carullo

et al. 2017

Self Cite

Vineyards are among the crops that shape quality landscapes. Many places in the world are famous for their unique wine landscapes which play an important role in the development of tourism in the rural areas. Among these, the wine landscape surrounding mount Etna (Sicily) emerges due to its undisputed value, as it is an important component of the territory recognised as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. This work was conducted with that in mind, in order to identify the most suitable areas for wine tourism on the slopes of our volcano. The method used assigns a great importance to the quality of the landscape, an indispensable resource for encouraging wine tourism, and considers it to be of equal importance with the production of the wines themselves. The present work uses multi-criteria analysis in combination with geographic information system (GIS). Numerous indicators describing local resources were weighed and spatialized. The GIS analysis allowed for the development of various intermediate maps, which allowed to draw up the final suitability map for wine tourism, identifying areas larger than those of the actual vineyards. The value of these areas and the quality of their landscapes are closely connected to the production of the wines in the zone. It could be the target for specific plans and projects aimed at using the available resources, to develop wine tourism in rural areas. Although the study only covers a limited geographical area, the methodology used has general validity and could be used in other contexts.

“…The suggested alternatives are: A1 -to establish a greenways network that can promote agro-rural development (Russo et al, 2014;Riguccio et al, 2015a); A2 -to develop a greenways network that can encourage tourism and cultural enjoyment in the area (De Montis et al, 2015;Diti et al, 2015;Taylor, 2015); A3 -to realise a network of greenways that can promote ecological activities (Fichera et al, 2015;Riguccio et al, 2016). These proposals arise from the study of the scientific literature, from specialists' opinions and from information contained in consulted cartographic, digital and documentary sources (Marcheggiani et al, 2011).…”

Section: Multi-criteria Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…(Taylor, 2015;Ottomano Palisano et al, 2016). It seems appropriate, based on the regional potential and planning guidelines, to acquire the analysis and evaluation tools, that will allow for the proper planning of the most suitable greenways network to stimulate the use of the rural areas and the valorisation of the resources (landscaping, cultural, agro-food) (Riguccio et al, 2015a). Therefore, the objective of this study is to develop a useful method to identify infrastructure systems capable of supporting a greenways network that can contribute to the promotion of areas of particular value.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of the territorial suitability for the creation of the greenways networks: methodological application in the Sicilian landscape context

Quattrone

Tomaselli

et al. 2017

Self Cite

The proposal to create greenways networks for the enhancement of more or less vast areas is of great importance to territory planning. The paths, which are overlaid on pre-existing linear patterns, promote the development of endogenous resources and facilitate direct learning of the territory's historical, cultural, environmental and landscaping assets. Rural areas can be strongly influenced by setting up a greenways network, as their use not only promotes the exchange of knowledge between users and inhabitants, but also encourages the enjoyment of various areas (agricultural landscapes, scattered cultural heritage, protected environments) that would otherwise be inaccessible due to their distance from the traditional routes. Altogether, this favours the introduction of economic activities based on their typical characteristics. This work identifies the appropriate road infrastructure, available in the former Province of Syracuse (East Sicily), for building greenways networks that will best contribute to the valorisation of their surrounding territory. This work assigns great importance to landscape features as factors of tourist and cultural attraction. We have used the multi-criteria analysis associated with geographic information system (GIS). We have weighed and mapped numerous indicators to define the territory's infrastructural, landscape, cultural, and tourist resources, meaning those able to increase the use of the territory and/or that determine attractiveness for the population. The GIS analysis allowed us to develop numerous intermediate maps, whose information helped us to draw up the final map illustrating the suitability of the existing infrastructures that could be useful while planning of a greenway network. Such infrastructures could be the subject of specific plans or detailed projects aimed at enhancing the pre-existing resources of a rural territory. This study, although referring to a defined territory, is methodologically valid in a general sense and can be used in various contexts.