Almatourism - Journal of Tourism, Culture and Territorial Development
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Saint James the Greater and Saint Michael Archangel: Historical, Anthropologycal and Artistic Features in their Routes
Full text linkThe project wants to explicate in a generic way the importance of the two sacred and charismatic medieval characters such as the figure of Saint James of the Greater from Santiago de Compostela from Spain and Saint Michael Archangel from Monte Sant'Angelo in South of Italy, through their main icons, their devotions, their anthropological approaches and their pilgrimages that have called so much people in their own cities. Santiago de Compostela and Monte Sant'Angelo were two of the most important places in the Middle Age. The representation of the saints and their actions are described in ancient literary texts and it explains not only the origin of their cults, but also the following development of the pilgrimages both through the main routes and through the alternative routes known as “tratturi” or sheep tracks. There are some aspects that are expressed better than others and icons can be defined as a functional artistic way to communicate to the entire people in the past. So, what are the main icons of Saint James and Saint Michael? And what are their routes? These are some common questions that can be answered by historical and artistic studies, but also anthropological and literature fields can be considered relevant at the same.This project is currently a work in progress for the PhD thesis.
«O Sancta Haera». Pilgrims and Pilgrimage in the Sanctuary of Sainte Foy at Conques
Full text linkThe Liber miraculorum Sancte Fidis, written during the XI century, partially by Bernard of Angers, describes miracles, healings and rituals practiced in the sanctuary of Sainte Foy at Conques, martyr of the beginning of the IV century.The Liber allows us to analyze the anthropological and religious dimension of the pilgrims and their pilgrimage. As a matter of fact, through the descriptions of the pilgrims, their gestures, their aspects, their words, their ritual practices by the tomb, their rich or poor offerings, we can analyze the dimension of the Medieval pilgrimage as a specific case study, which can help us describe the idea of pilgrimage in Medieval West Europe and specifically in this sanctuary.Furthermore, through the reading of the accounts of miracle stories, we can analyze the healing ritual practices, the miraculous dimension of this cult and the Sainte’s ability to treat diseases. The center of the Conques cult was – and remains – the Majesty of Sainte Foy, a reliquary statue in which the power (virtus/dynamis) of the saint’s relics is concentrated
A Cross-cultural Investigation of Tourists’ Memorable Experiences between Two Nationalities
Full text linkThis study aims to make a cross-cultural investigation into tourists’ memorable experiences. A self-administrated survey was carried out between Turkish and British tourists visiting Didim, Turkey, in the summer of 2016. 247 valid questionnaires from Turkish tourists and 241 valid questionnaires from British tourists were collected. Seven dimensions of memorable tourism experiences-hedonism, refreshment, novelty, local culture, meaningfulness, knowledge and involvement - were identified through factor analysis in the study. The results also indicated that British tourists had found local culture more memorable in their travels than Turkish tourists. However, hedonism was the most memorable experience dimension for Turkish tourists. The practical and theoretical contributions of the study results are discussed
Processes of Reinterpretation of Mining Heritage: the Case of Bergslagen, Sweden
Full text linkMining heritage is often used as a powerful tool in maintaining a sense of place and national identity, and Sweden is not different in this respect. Another important motive for the revival of the mining past is the opportunity for the economic revitalisation of the space marked by the deindustrialisation process. The aim of this paper is to investigate how mining heritage is interpreted and used for the goals of tourism destination development based on the five provinces in the middle part of Sweden that are called Bergslagen. The first decade of the 2000s was characterised by the prevailing top-down approach to the regeneration process of the mining landscape of Bergslagen; the process was led by public institutions that were mainly concerned with preserving the cultural heritage left over from the mining era. This resulted in the absence of a diverse and innovative thinking in terms of the touristic development of these destinations. Municipalities in the region ended up with multiple mining sites trying to attract visitors with similar types of experiences based on the limited representations of the regional mining heritage. Enhancing communication between the managers of the mining sites and closer collaboration with other tourism sites in the same region would improve visitation. Additionally, alternative interpretations of the heritage might allow for a wider representation of local people, as well as an awareness of the local or regional heritage of Bergslagen
Food and Gastronomic Tourism for Developing Rural Areas Around the Via Francigena in Tuscany
Full text linkThe paper reports results from an explorative research on the socio-economic opportunity that the presence of pilgrims and tourists along the Tuscan section of the Via Francigena can be for local communities. The aim is to deepen the actual and future opportunities that gastronomy represent for the development of tourism around the Via Francigena, with a special attention to destinations out of the beaten tracks. The research has been carried out merging different sources of information, including scientific literature, news, media, direct observation and personal experience, and performing a dozen of face-to-face interviews to key-informants, selected within socioeconomic actors involved in developing tourism around the course of the Via Francigena in Tuscany. The interviews have been carried out during the last six months, involving farmers, wine producers, restaurant owners, tourism and rural tourism entrepreneurs and local administrative offices. Local communities have already understood the strategic importance to sustain their socioeconomic activities with the development of pilgrimage and tourism along the Via Francigena. The rich variety of local gastronomy can satisfy both frugal needs of pilgrims and those of visitors more interested in gourmandizing. Food and gastronomy could be a strong leverage to increase tourist presences out of the beaten tracks
Croatian Pilgrimages to Loreto from the 5000 Documents of the "Croatian Maritime Regesta" in the 18th Century - vol. I
Full text linkThis paper presents a small part of the pilgrimages undertaken by Croats during the 18th century across the Adriatic Sea to Loreto. The pilgrimages are described as a sui generis phenomenon of all human and religious societies. The history of the Catholic pilgrimage is analyzed through the perspective of common roots with Judaism and Islam, and the subsequent differentiation from other Christian confessions. Relations of the Croats with overseas territories since the 14th century are described, as well as their settlement in the hinterland of Ancona: Recanati and Loreto. The story of the Shrine of the Our Lady of Loreto is presented, the ties with the Croats settled there, and the foundation of a special seminary for Croats in 1580: the Illyrian College. During the review of the 4,890 documentary sources of volume I of the Croatian Maritime Regesta, a smaller segment of sources was found from the State Archive of Venice on the subject of pilgrimages. These sources list 44 pilgrimages from various locations on the Croatian coast. The types of ships they traveled on, the origin of the passengers, their number, organization in groups, the time of pilgrimage and the time of the year in which they occurred are analyzed. The most numerous pilgrims are from Lošinj (Lussino), followed by Cres (Cherso), Dugi Otok (Isola Lunga), Rovinj (Rovigno), Labin (Albona), Korčula (Curzola), Zadar (Zara) and Vis (Lissa).This work is a contribution to the study of the links between the two sides of the Adriatic in the 18th century, which requires further publication and analysis of documentary sources
Learning from the Route: a Pilot Project on Landscape Reading along the Itinerary of Via Lauretana Senese
Full text linkThe essay investigates the opportunities generated by recovering a European Pilgrimage Route’s pathway as device for landscape perception and territorial analysis. It is focused on a project conducted by Verdiana Network in collaboration with the Municipality of Asciano (Siena). The project aims to activate processes of landscape planning and management, and promote local tourism within the context of Asciano’s rural landscape and among the cultural and natural heritage intercepted by this pilgrimage route. It concerns the Siena branch of the Via Lauretana, the pilgrimage route toward the Sanctuary of Loreto in the Marche Region. The project focuses on the landscape structure of the route, modelled by the territorial dimension and spatial configuration of the itinerary, together with the social processes of landscape perception activated by the route itself. From this point of view, the project consisted of a process of discovering the landscape along the route and intercepting polar elements that make the itinerary the basis for the development of local tourism and cultural activities
Pilgrims in Lower Lunigiana and Traces of Ancient Settlements: the Case of Trepuncio and Xago in Avenza
Full text linkResidents’ Perception of the Social and Cultural Impacts of a Public Music Festival in Catalonia
Full text linkMany authors recognize that events, besides generating economic impacts, also contribute to social and cultural development, for example by creating and communicating social values and promoting social sharing, strengthening local identity and culture and/or promoting a sense of pride and belonging to a community. This study analyses the perception that residents of the city of Vic (a medium-sized city in the interior of the region of Catalonia, Spain) have developed about the Mercat de Música Viva de Vic (MMVV); an international music festival organized annually by public institutions for the past 27 years. From the results of a factor analysis the paper demonstrates how this event is valued for the positive economic impacts generated, but in particular, for other impacts that have favored the social and cultural development of the region, while negative impacts are also recognized.