Underground Geotourism: a Historic and Economic Overview of Show Caves and Show Mines in Italy

Garofano, Matteo; Govoni, David L.

doi:10.1007/s12371-012-0055-3

Cited by 47 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Natural rock formations, mountains, glaciers, volcanoes, caves, lakes, rivers, waterfalls, erratic blocks and other landforms often have religious or spiritual values and cultural meanings (Figure 1c), expressed through geomythology, local folklore and legends [73][74][75][76]. Such features are also modern geotourism attractions where visitors can learn not only about the shaping of the planet and associative cultural interests, but also enjoy more adventurous activities such as glacier hiking and visiting active volcanoes, show caves, mines and lava tubes [75,[77][78][79][80][81].…”

Section: Geoheritage and The Cultural Landscapementioning

confidence: 99%

Geoheritage, Geotourism and the Cultural Landscape: Enhancing the Visitor Experience and Promoting Geoconservation

2018

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Geotourism spans a range of visitor interests, from the specialist geotourist to the more general visitor. As well as supporting geoconservation outcomes, it provides economic, cultural, relational and social benefits for both visitors and host communities. The interconnections between geoheritage and the cultural components of the landscape have antecedents in concepts of landscape aesthetics in different cultures. These interconnections provide a range of opportunities for enhancing the geotourist experience and promoting geoconservation and geoeducation by means of activities that involve aesthetic and emotional experiences and interpretation through different cultural filters that encourage the rediscovery of a sense of wonder both about the geological stories in the landscape and the human interactions. A cultural ecosystem services framework provides a holistic approach for informing conservation policy, management and planning for geotourism, enabling assessment of multiple benefits and trade-offs for visitors and communities based on the values of the geoheritage assets. Geotourism studies could also benefit from integration of existing theory, conceptual analysis and practice from broader heritage and nature-based tourism and closer collaboration with relevant social sciences. Adhering to sound geoethical practice is an essential part of geotourism, which can also play a role in the promotion of geoethics among the public and professionals.3 of 25 cultural elements of the landscape (e.g., as features celebrated in art, sculpture, music, poetry and literature or that are revered as sacred places), or may provide the essential context in which cultural features (e.g., settlements, castles and archaeological sites) are located. Geology and geomorphology are also a fundamental part of the distinctive character of many rural landscapes and the built environment and contribute to the aesthetic qualities of these landscapes. As described below, there are many connections between geoheritage and cultural heritage that provide a basis for geotourism activities. The value of these connections is now acknowledged within the UNESCO Global Geoparks framework [9]. Likewise, many cultural World Heritage Sites benefit from strong supporting geoheritage interests [38], while many existing natural properties are also cultural landscapes that have potential for re-inscription as mixed properties, recognizing their cultural and spiritual associations as well as their outstanding geoheritage features, as happened in the case of Tongariro National Park (New Zealand) (1992) and Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park (Australia) (1994) [39].The World Heritage Committee of UNESCO defined cultural landscapes as representing the "combined works of nature and of man" and "illustrative of the evolution of human society and settlement over time, under the influence of the physical constraints and/or opportunities presented by their natural environment and of successive social, economic and cultural forces, both external and internal" [40] (p...

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Section: Geoheritage and The Cultural Landscapementioning

confidence: 99%

Geoheritage, Geotourism and the Cultural Landscape: Enhancing the Visitor Experience and Promoting Geoconservation

2018

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“…In Italy the geotouristic approach in urban areas has been already tested in some important cities. Rome [41,42,51,52], Milan [29], Genoa [53], Naples [54], Turin [55].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“Perugia Upside-Down”: A Multimedia Exhibition in Umbria (Central Italy) for Improving Geoheritage and Geotourism in Urban Areas

Melelli

2019

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Multimedia materials represent a promising approach to the promotion of geoheritage. Despite geology being normally associated with natural environments, new tendencies are noted towards better knowledge of the “geological reason” for the selection of a location and the development of urban settlements. The urban environment is, in fact, a perfect laboratory for opening the scientific topics to a broad audience. In this paper, the experience of a geological exhibition organized in the city of Perugia (Umbria, central Italy) is discussed, highlighting the SECRET (SEe and CREaTe) for creating an effective dissemination activity. Panels, interactive tools, laboratories, and trekking tours outside the museum are the main activities, which hosted more than eight thousand visitors in a few months. Moreover, the exhibition was the starting point for ongoing projects on geotourism in the city, with important consequences in terms of visibility and financial return.

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“…Thus, geotourism aims to disclose the geodiversity of a given region and, depending on the access conditions, become an economically viable activity (JUNIOR, 2013, VERAS, 2014. Garofano and Govoni (2012) evidence the high potential of mining areas for geotourism activities that enable the understanding of aspects of anthropogenic relief, such as the history and techniques involved in its evolution over time.…”

Section: Anthropogenic Relief and Mining Heritage: The Example Of Thementioning

confidence: 99%

Geomorphological Approach in the Study of Mining Heritage

Ahn

Simon

2019

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The objective of this work is to analyze the potential of the anthropogenic relief as an unexplored dimension of mining heritage, since it understands that the geomorphological features derived from the mineral extraction process have value for geoconservation actions. A survey and analysis of bibliographical references was carried out to identify the articulation between mining and geoconservation, from a geomorphological approach. Finally, a conjunctural analysis was proposed in the Minas do Camaquã Geosite, in order to understand the anthropogenic forms of relief as mining heritage. Anthropogenic morphologies derived from mining activities should be explored based on their relationship with the techniques used for their spatial organization and the historical period in which they were created and may promote geotourism geared towards mining in geosites occurring in mining areas.

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Underground Geotourism: a Historic and Economic Overview of Show Caves and Show Mines in Italy

Cited by 47 publications

References 9 publications

Geoheritage, Geotourism and the Cultural Landscape: Enhancing the Visitor Experience and Promoting Geoconservation

Geoheritage, Geotourism and the Cultural Landscape: Enhancing the Visitor Experience and Promoting Geoconservation

“Perugia Upside-Down”: A Multimedia Exhibition in Umbria (Central Italy) for Improving Geoheritage and Geotourism in Urban Areas

Geomorphological Approach in the Study of Mining Heritage

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