The Faro Convention and the sustainable valorization of the underwater heritage. Case studies and projects in the Adriatic and Ionian seas

During the last years, some marine or coastal protected areas subject to the landscape planning restrictions, along the Adriatic and Ionian coasts have been the backdrop of the coastal landscape archaeological researches carried out by the Salento and Trieste Universities, in collaboration with national and international partners, both public and private. They are excellent sites for geo-archaeological research, where the protection activity allows us to individuate the signs – poorly recognizable or unequivocal – of the changes and to re-trace through the trans-disciplinary analysis the ancient landscape features. The presentation aims to describe some projects, some of which are in progress, that have as common denominator a valorization model of the environmental and historical-archaeological heritage and a methodological protocol of the geo-archaeological investigation in a particular context such as a protected marine area and/or natural park. These valorization proposals comprise a series of actions: a preliminary paleo-geographic, paleo-environmental and archaeological investigation program, that includes also topographical and bathymetric surveys, cores, targeted excavations, mapping and development of integrated information systems; furthermore the design of technical, exhibition and reception spaces, with interactive multimedia displays, life-size and scale replicas, landscape reconstructions and simulation of its changes, through semi-immersive fruition using holographic systems presented in sequence; design and installation of “blue paths” accessible by snorkeling, scuba diving with trained guides (also for people with a disability) and/or boat, glass bottom boat or video-boat; the blue paths’ stops are represented by environmental, geomorphological, archaeological and geoarchaeological points of interest