GREENWAYS E VELORAIL: UNA CULTURAL ROUTE LUNGO GLI INSEDIAMENTI RUPESTRI DEI MONACI GRECI IN CALABRIA

Abstract

The research project starts from a survey of the hypogean sites, on the Ionian and Tyrrhenian coasts of the Province of Reggio Calabria, in which there is a presence of “Italian-Greek” monks. Since the first immigrations they have contributed to the realization of a Cultural Landscape. This historical period of Calabria, that is not yet fully known, is critical to understand origins of Greek’s religious and spiritual life and in the same time the cultural and social evolution of this Italian region. This project develops from a thorough analysis of the best practices of some European countries in the promotion of slow travel. Slow Travel and Slow Tourism have all the potential to use the cultural resources already existing in the territory through a sustainable repurposing of currently abandoned infrastructures. The creation of slow routes, as greenways, velorails, etc., may result in the creation of a “Cultural Route” on the trail of Greek monasticism in Calabria.

Keywords

• Cultural Routes
• Greenways
• Velorail
• Greek Monasticism
• Slow Travel
• Byzantine Heritage