The woods, the cloister and the shape of silence: forest trails and landscape valorisation in Serra San Bruno (Italy)

The paper focuses on the interpretation of the forestry landscape of the Serra San Bruno district, a mountainous region of Calabria (Southern Italy), and on the valorisation of its heritage related to the presence of the Carthusian monks. Although not accessible to visitors, here the Charterhouse founded in the late 11th century by St Bruno of Cologne still represents an important religious and pilgrimage centre. St Bruno decided to establish in the Serre Mountains his hermitage also because he was fascinated by their landscape character, allowing for isolation and silence, and inspiring openness to God and prayer. In the same region and of the same historic period is also the Basilian monastery of St. John Therestis, which has been recently restored and now hosts a small community of orthodox monks. These monastic sites are today part of national and international tourism packages. In order to favour forms of religious tourism helping understand and share the spiritual experience of St Bruno and the Carthusian monks, the research has been focused on the networking connection and valorisation of the historic religious sites with the main resources composing the local forestry landscape. Our work aimed to define specific trails and landscape management strategies valorising the tranquil character of the place and supporting sustainable tourism. “Tranquil areas” were identified and mapped and a network of trails was defined so as to emphasise the multifunctional use of the forestry landscape in the study area and support cultural/natural tourism itineraries. Since for centuries the forests were managed sensitively by the Carthusian monks, the designed routes are also intended to help the valorisation of forestry based resources. They can favour and support educational experiences in a landscape with high natural value. The itineraries will also help realising a more general programme recently outlined by some of the municipalities involved, aiming at the creation in the area of strong tourism, scientific and cultural poles based on the valorisation of the local biodiversity and religious traditions.