Economic Feasibility of an Integrated Program for the Enhancement of the Byzantine Heritage in the Aspromonte National Park. The Case of Staiti

Abstract

The Inner Areas of Calabria are scattered with traces of the historical-architectural heritage of the Byzantine period. Remains of fortifications and religious buildings still testify today to the wealth and exceptional value of an absolutely peculiar settlement system. The enhancement of these testimonies encounters many difficulties from a management point of view: their diffusion throughout the territory and the limited number of visitors prevent the adoption of management models that ensure their full usability, and thus increase their attractiveness. The article illustrates the economic feasibility check of a management model developed specifically for a case study, that is, the historical and cultural heritage present in Staiti, a small town in the province of Reggio Calabria, in southern Italy.