Le "Pietre del Diavolo" tra borghi e castelli nell'Appennino emiliano. Un percorso culturale nel paesaggio ofiolitico.

Geological heritage: a new opportunity for cultural and tourist development. The "Devil's Stones" between Hamlets and Castles of the Emilia Apennines (Italy). The complexity of the national territory and the variety of environmental heritage make Italy one of the countries where the areal extension is inversely proportional to the richness and frequency of places and objects of considerable cultural relevance. This is particularly true for environmental heritage, which is enjoying an ever increasing interest from the viewpoint both of scientific interest and of legislation regarding census, protection and improvement activities. Within this framework, a co-operation project between the Department of Earth Sciences of Modena and Reggio Emilia University and the Landscape, Park and Nature Conservancy Service of the Emilia-Romagna Region has been activated. The aim of this project is the classification and assessment of the most important geological sites and the implementation of educational routes and cultural tourist itineraries. The results expected could therefore be an opportunity for stimulating territorial upgrading by means of interventions on abandoned or secondary areas and by promoting new models of development.