3:30 PM - 3:45 PM
[MIS04-01] Enhancing the value of recent geomorphological features related to archaeological heritage around the Via Francigena (Tuscany, Italy)
Keywords:Geomorphological heritage, Thermal heritage, Heritage education, Archaeological sites, Via Francigena
Defining a certain geological feature as a geosite (i.e., a site with an identified interest for conservation) is based upon its perceived scientific, educational, cultural and aesthetic value. Ranking these values can be highly subjective and the relative value of some of these items, such as educational values may depend on the exposure of these sites to visitors.
The ‘Via Francigena’ is a medieval pilgrimage route that goes from Canterbury (England) to Rome (Italy). This route crosses several areas associated with an increased geothermal gradient that favour the occurrence of hot springs. Consequently, some of them have been historically exploited as spas as well as in other industry, creating a landscape where natural and cultural thermal phenomena have been integrated during centuries.
One of the areas where this symbiosis is particularly intense is the western area of the Radicofani basin around the Val d’Orcia (Tuscany, Italy). Nevertheless, while some volcanic and subvolcanic features are identified in the Italian National Inventory of Geosites (Dipartimento per il Servizio Geologico d’Italia – ISPRA), such as the ‘Monte Amiata’ (ID_Geosito_972), there is a surprising lack of identified sites related to the generation of large travertine and tuff deposits associated to thermal surges and their exploitation.
A case in point of this surprising absence is the freshwater limestone formation at ‘Bagno Vignoni’ (Tuscany, Italy), associated first to the natural flow of thermal surges and more recently associated to a compound of medieval spas and watermills. The process of limestone formation is still active, leading to features with noticeable aesthetic value. Only recently, the geological processes involved in the formation of these features is beginning to be portrayed to the public.
This limestone formation is less than one km away from the Via Francigena route, which is walked by around 50 thousand pilgrims per year (2019), being Italian, French, Swiss and German the most frequent nationalities of pilgrims. The sustained flux of visitors makes possible increasing the educational value of this formation if an appropriate strategy of presentation to pilgrims of the geological processes involved is designed.
This communication presents the ongoing work within the rurAllure project (funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme under grant agreement no 101004887) to design narratives related to volcanic and geothermal sites and archaeological thermal heritage associated, targeted to pilgrims along the route.
Besides other aims, these narratives intend to increase the exposure of these sites to visitors, thus enhancing their educational value. Also, the narratives intend to highlight the connection between these recent geomorphic processes and the cultural history and archaeological remains associated, as means of increasing their cultural value.
The ultimate aim in relation to geoheritage is promoting some iconic travertine sites in the area, such as Bagno Vignoni travertines, as listed geosites through enhancing the educational and cultural values of these recent geomorphic processes.
The ‘Via Francigena’ is a medieval pilgrimage route that goes from Canterbury (England) to Rome (Italy). This route crosses several areas associated with an increased geothermal gradient that favour the occurrence of hot springs. Consequently, some of them have been historically exploited as spas as well as in other industry, creating a landscape where natural and cultural thermal phenomena have been integrated during centuries.
One of the areas where this symbiosis is particularly intense is the western area of the Radicofani basin around the Val d’Orcia (Tuscany, Italy). Nevertheless, while some volcanic and subvolcanic features are identified in the Italian National Inventory of Geosites (Dipartimento per il Servizio Geologico d’Italia – ISPRA), such as the ‘Monte Amiata’ (ID_Geosito_972), there is a surprising lack of identified sites related to the generation of large travertine and tuff deposits associated to thermal surges and their exploitation.
A case in point of this surprising absence is the freshwater limestone formation at ‘Bagno Vignoni’ (Tuscany, Italy), associated first to the natural flow of thermal surges and more recently associated to a compound of medieval spas and watermills. The process of limestone formation is still active, leading to features with noticeable aesthetic value. Only recently, the geological processes involved in the formation of these features is beginning to be portrayed to the public.
This limestone formation is less than one km away from the Via Francigena route, which is walked by around 50 thousand pilgrims per year (2019), being Italian, French, Swiss and German the most frequent nationalities of pilgrims. The sustained flux of visitors makes possible increasing the educational value of this formation if an appropriate strategy of presentation to pilgrims of the geological processes involved is designed.
This communication presents the ongoing work within the rurAllure project (funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme under grant agreement no 101004887) to design narratives related to volcanic and geothermal sites and archaeological thermal heritage associated, targeted to pilgrims along the route.
Besides other aims, these narratives intend to increase the exposure of these sites to visitors, thus enhancing their educational value. Also, the narratives intend to highlight the connection between these recent geomorphic processes and the cultural history and archaeological remains associated, as means of increasing their cultural value.
The ultimate aim in relation to geoheritage is promoting some iconic travertine sites in the area, such as Bagno Vignoni travertines, as listed geosites through enhancing the educational and cultural values of these recent geomorphic processes.