The cultural landscape of the mediterranean diet as tool for the valorization of inner areas: from a theoretical formulation to an operational model

This paper presents a research project, where the Mediterranean Diet, recognized as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, according to a multidisciplinary reading, becomes an opportunity and a valuable tool for the sustainable growth of the Inner Areas. The goal is to contribute to the development of the rural areas of the Reggio Calabria’s Metropolitan City and the methodology is based on the definition of a tool that allows the identification of the correct assets of knowledge, planning and evaluation oriented towards the development of territorial resources. The scope is to present a model able to help in enhancing the contexts of local products, preserving the “tangible” elements that make up this ”intangible” lifestyle named Mediterranean Diet, in order to produce specific effective impacts on territories and communities. In conclusion, the paper stresses the economic growth capacity of the cultural landscape outlined by the Mediterranean Diet recognizing the ability to defend the progressive erosion of the cultural heritage of the Mediterranean basin.