CartoHeritage and the "Culture of the Landscape" in the Modena area (Northern Italy)

The Modena National Archive owns a Cartographic Heritage of extraordinary value. In 2015, the Estense Map Collection of the Archive (precious cartographic documents of the Estense Family-ruled Duchy of Modena and Reggio Emilia, dating from the XV to the XIX centuries) inspired an exhibition related to the border changes between the Modena and Bologna provinces in the Po Plain area. This Science Fair project was organized in collaboration with the Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, with the aim of offering the public a greater understanding and appreciation of the region they call home. Members of the public of all ages visited the exhibition together with classes from primary, middle and high schools. The visit engaged local students in an in-depth map-reading exercise, in the search for the physical and human elements of forgotten landscapes that only these historical maps are able to recreate. The experience involved five classes from a High School scouting around the area covered by the maps to discover how these places are now. A bike tour was organized to explore the area more effectively and identify traces of the elements observed in the maps and understand what changes have taken place. The bike tour attracted the interest of the local municipalities who are now using this initiative to stimulate tourism in their region.