Strategies for the recognition and the enhancement of the cultural heritage in Sant'Antioco

Sant' Antioco is a small island located in the southwest ofSardinia (Italy). It has been historically occupied by Phoenicians who initially founded the town of Sulki along its south-east coast, then Carthaginian and Romans later on. Finally, during the first decades of 1700, Sant'Antioco was occupied by a community of fishermen of Genoese origins coming from Tabarka, Tunisia. These many different cultural influences have determined through centuries a very peculiar cultural heritage in a pretty small territory where still nowadays different customs and even different languages live together. History, archaeology, traditional crafts, food and music are a rich heritage still alive, but yet little recognized by Sant' Antioco's own inhabitants. In this frame, and with the goal of raising awareness on the richness of the local heritage, the Departments of Architecture DIDA (Florence) and DICAAR (Cagliari) have planned several coordinated activities and integrated strategies that include: a first joint seminar opened to university students of both Faculties finalized to the documentation of the local tangible and intangible resources; the involvement of the younger population (secondary school students) with regular meetings finalized to attract and empower them toward their heritage; develop new digital tools, including serious games, in order to better spread the acquired data and reach the biggest number of people. The initial community engagement is expected to prepare the ground for a future enhancement of all local resources rotating around the cultural heritage of the island that could lead to the development of a more responsible and sustainable tourism.