The Heritagization of a Mediterranean Vernacular Mountain Landscape: Concepts, Problems and Processes

Abstract

The concepts of heritage and landscape have always changed or been developed based on the social context of the time. For decades, attempts have been made to find a pragmatic definition for a changing setting where values, evolve or disappear in step with the changing ways and styles of life of each society. Heritage and landscape have inherent values such as identity, culture, authenticity or integrity, that is to say, landscape character. Current heritagization processes that lead to an understanding of the palimpsest of landscape and heritage layers need to be participatory and inclusive as their importance and sustainability depend on this. This article shows how the early stages of a heritagization process unfold in a small region of the western Mediterranean, Penyagolosa (Castellón). The current problems of the region-depopulation, abandonment and loss of culture and identity-are assessed in search of an understanding and appreciation of a heritage landscape. The research uses techniques such as photo elicitation in a workshops, GIS analysis and evaluates the different options to characterize the landscape offered by different researchers. The analysis explains the different phases of the research to establish the basis of the heritagization of this setting. The study also established a parallel perspective for valorization between researchers and local population-objective and subjective visions-thus encouraging the interest of the social majority linked to the landscape.

A Practical Vision of Heritage Tourism in Low-Population-Density Areas. The Spanish Mediterranean as a Case Study

“…This step is the background of the research. At the beginning of this work, from a previous documentation period and preliminary workshop sessions, the area's inhabitants' most representative values were identified [33]. Since this is a new project for both the researchers and the local population, meetings were held to gather all the heritage stakeholders' opinions and knowledge.…”

“…Therefore, minor initiatives for knowledge transmission [28] and heritage education [29,30] may open new opportunities for rural areas where resiliency speaks of a whole tangle of attributes and values that are continuously negotiated. Knowledge and temporality build cultural attributes and values [31,32] that, if properly addressed, can generate heritage sustainability-based benefits [33].…”

Introduction

“…This section offers novel insights into placemaking through cultural heritage, memories of the past and related current cultural practices. It is oriented to help to (re)construct a place from a cultural perspective (Altaba & García-Esparza, 2018;García-Esparza & Altaba, 2020).…”

Study on the Spatial Distribution Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Famous Historical and Cultural Towns or Villages in Hubei Province, China

“…et al, 2014) [28], among other things. The research of GIS in heritage conservation planning, planning management and the decision making of rural heritage is more extensive and can be applied in the comparison of planning options (Tena, P.A. et al, 2018) [29] and the comprehensive assessment of decision making (Giard, L.F. et al, 2007) [30], conservation planning (Koutsi, D. et al, 2019) [31], planning management ( [32][33][34], etc.…”