The Great Diversity of Italian Landscapes and Landforms: Their Origin and Human Imprint

Abstract

An outstanding variety of landscapes and landforms are present in Italy due to its complex geological history, repeated climate changes and increasing human impact through time. This chapter highlights the reasons for the geological and geomorphological diversity of the country by illustrating its geological evolution since the Mesozoic, outlining the paleogeographic changes that occurred as a consequence of Quaternary climate variations, and tracing the unique human civilization history that has so strongly influenced landscape evolution since the Neolithic. Special attention is devoted to the complex history of the country, where peoples coming from different geographical areas met each other contributing to make Italy a compendium of cultural diversity capable of attracting travellers from all over the world. Landscape conservation and protection are finally taken into account.