HEORETICAL-METHODOLOGICAL REFLECTIONS FOR ITALIAN LITERARY PARKS. THE TERRITORIAL IDENTITY AND THE VILLAGE-PARK

The purpose of this paper is to propose a theoretical-methodological reflection on literary parks and the importance that the theme of territorial identity can have for their constitution as park-villages, i.e. parks that engage an entire community and its territory.  Since the establishment of literary parks is a process that involves Italian culture, initially their foundation is contextualized in geographical studies, with particular attention to geo-literature, and then to the tourist field.  The territorial and tourist role of literary parks is focused on these scientific assumptions, identifying their strengths and weaknesses. In this context, the importance of territorial identity as a key factor is highlighted and literary sources are useful for recognizing the identity characteristics of a territory. In this way, literature is defined as the thread that connects the identity of a territory with the design of a park and with the active participation of the local population. Finally, the theoretical-methodological reflection includes some indications for the design of an actual village-park that therefore places territorial identity at its centre, recalling literary sources.