Ancient history for tourism development. Building content for meaningful travel itineraries

When it comes to cultural tourism studies, sustainability, and environmental protection are often addressed in the framework of tourist flows management accessing cultural attractions. However, studies emphasizing the need to integrate this analytical dimension into the planning phase of tourist experiences are less common. The European project "rurAllure," aiming at the promotion of rural museums and heritage sites in the vicinity of European pilgrimage routes, provides an opportunity to consider the development of slow tourism itineraries that allow hikers and pilgrims not only to cross regions but also to stay overnights along the route and discover the richness of the surrounding territories. In this approach, the concept of sustainability goes beyond merely environmental protection. It also includes the social dimension of mutual exchanges with residents and the sustainability side of cultural sites visiting practices that ensure a more balanced distribution of the economic impact of tourist flows. After introducing the conceptual approach to the relationship between tourism, pilgrimage, and ancient history from a sustainable practices perspective, the paper presents a practical example of how to plan a cycling tourism experience starting from the official itinerary of the Via Romea Germanica in the Po Delta River area.