Digitization of Heritage and cultural tourism. A proposal for the enhancement of the Mining Heritage of Sulcis.

This thesis deals with the theme of the recovery of mining sites, referring in particular to those present in the Sulcis basin in Southern Sardinia (Italy), with the inclusion of not yet enhanced objects and sites in the cultural-tourist offer, through the improvement of existing itineraries. The contents of the research are divided into topics that cover the state of the heritage, the promotion of cultural routes, and a focus on the case study of the Bacu Abis Mine, and try to analyze and describe a series of key points on which to base a proposal for the enhancement of the mining heritage of Sulcis. In the introductory analysis it is described an overview of the scenarios that authorities have faced trying to address the problems arising from de-industrialization in international contexts. The closure of mining sites has led to the depopulation of parts of the territory, which has caused negative economic and social impacts, leaving mining legacies under increasing neglect. The enhancement of industrial heritage can have a social and economic impact on the territories if considered as a driver for sustainable development and a potential opportunity for local growth. From this perspective, cultural tourism can be seen as a way to support the development of mining areas, maintaining access to the heritage available and contributing to its preservation. The promotion of itineraries is intended to diversify the tourist flows towards more sustainable solutions for the mining regions, creating networks exploiting the cultural and natural attractions that the territory offers. The analysis carried out is useful for defining a proposal for the implementation of a path in the route of Cammino Minerario di Santa Barbara dedicated to the history of the Bacu Abis Mine, as a result of the process of digitization of the mining heritage to be included in the tourist experience with the use of augmented reality, aimed at better sharing and enjoyment of the heritage.