Lithological and structural control on Italian mountain Geoheritage: opportunities for tourism, outdoor and educational activities

Abstract: Mountain landscapes are generated by the interplay of endogenous and exogenous processes, whose reciprocal
importance changes over times. The Italian relief reflects a high geomorphodiversity and an overview on iconic
mountain landscapes, representative of the lithological-structural diversity of the Italian relief, is presented. The study
cases, located along Alps and Apennines and in the Sardinia island, are exemplary for the comprehension of the role
of the substratum in shaping mountain landscapes and of the deriving risk scenario. Moreover, mountain landscapes
are characterized by a high potential for use in terms of: i) ideal open-air natural laboratories for multidisciplinary
educational purposes including geological-geomorphological, historical and ecological topics; ii) possibility of specific
outdoor activities that take advantage of outdoor sports (e.g., climbing, canyoning, speleology). These feasible
and versatile opportunities favour the enhancement of such environments under different perspectives as well as the
involvement of local communities and the socio-economic return deriving from mountain geoheritage management.