Integrated valorisation of heritage sites. The UNESCO Historic Urban Landscape approach

According to the UNESCO recommendation of the Historic Urban Landscape, urban heritage is not simply the sum of monuments and urban fabric but a comprehensive system marked by historical, geo-morphological, natural and social relationships characterised by a complex layering of meanings resulting from long-term dynamics, where change is still ongoing and needs to be managed and understood. On these grounds the enhancement and management of archaeological sites or historic centres cannot be understood or tackled isolating them from their context (geographical, historical and social). This is even more true when one deals with archaeological sites located in fragile environmental conditions or historic cities under tourist pressure. In this sense the paper will stress the importance of promoting synergies between urban development, public participation and heritage preservation, in order to successfully manage heritage enhancement in its natural landscape. Drawing on experiences from Italy, Libya and the Mediterranean world, where often traditional natural and cultural landscapes are threatened by urban development and the lack of public awareness - exemplified by a number of case studies -, the paper will stress the importance of: -digital cataloguing on GIS of cultural heritage (archaeological, rock art, historical, natural, intangible and mobile) and of its contextualisation; -increasing public awareness in cultural heritage preservation and enhancement, through training, participation and new technologies; -state/public intervention through conservation legislation and financial incentives for preservation and enhancement; -heritage management according to the UNESCO HUL paradigm that approaches conservation as "management of change".