La conservazione integrata dei valori identitari della Valle d’Itria, fra esigenze di tutela e turismo sostenibile

Since the late sixties of the twentieth century, the Valle d'Itria (provinces of Bari, Brindisi and Taranto), has been affected by the economic phenomenon of mass seasonal tourism, which has established itself and spread with a growing trend of presences. Although there are examples of conservation and good use of the cultural heritage of Puglia, sometimes in this area the economic-tourist development has shown a poor respect for the existing, a partial loss of cultural and historical identity and uncontrollable anthropogenic pressure on the monuments, damage to the latter but also to the quality of life of the residents. This can be seen both within the fortified villages of land and sea (Locorotondo, Martina Franca, Cisternino, Ostuni, Carovigno, Polignano a mare, Monopoli) and along the coast and the groves of ancient olive trees. The present contribution, making use of a consolidated scientific literature, starts a reflection on some case studies, with the relative positive/negative results on the territory concerned; on the research criteria used in the years 2000-2018 to design-orient the phenomenon; on the need to expand the communication-information-scientific and political-social sharing platform of the collected data and the effects produced by ineffective environmental and cultural safeguard actions. At the same time, the research aims to develop a model of research, local sustainable tourism development, aimed primarily at restricted public spaces (streets and squares, promenade, shoreline, etc.) devoted to the preservation of material cultural identities (through the restoration of Fortified historical centers of Valle d'Itria, functional recovery of housing units, respect for traditional local building techniques, correct and continuous protection of the landscape of ancient olive trees), well integrated with intangible cultural values.