Cultural Heritage and “Senses of Place”: Issues and Challenges

The paper investigates the relationship between heritage and the concept of ‘sense of place’. Focusing attention on the ‘sense of place’ leads to a shift from the analysis of heritage conservation and valorization based on the object in itself to an approach centred on a place, as an important subject to be considered in cultural policies for sustainable local economic development. In such a perspective the distinction between tangible and intangible heritage becomes blurred, both being important characters of a place. At the same time, several questions come to the fore such as: how the ‘sense of place’ interacts with society’s wellbeing; whose ‘sense of place’ is relevant; how the public decision-making process is able to deal with the conflicts related to the construction of the ‘sense of place’; what a role the Internet and social media play. The paper after analysing the economic dimensions of heritage and its relation with the ‘sense of place’, addresses the above questions providing examples and suggesting some policy implications.