Some examples in the field of Geotourism in Emilia Romagna, Marche and Abruzzo Regions (Northern-Central Italy)

Italy is a country with a rich natural heritage that is having difficulty infinding the right areas for acquiring knowledge, protection and improvement. Inparticular, the geological component of the landscape has not yet acquired a sufficientvalue as a cultural asset which people can learn about and share. Within the Italianterritory geotourism activities and products are recently widespread and, in thispaper, some examples of activities carried out in the Emilia-Romagna, Marche andAbruzzo regions (northern-central Italy) are illustrated. They show different possibleapproach to the realization of geotourism maps, geological itineraries, portable andon site illustrative materials, web based projects, geosites analysis. These activitiesare targeted at various potential users, tourists, local residents, young people, schoolsetc., and are aimed at the enhancement of geological and geomorphological aspects ofthe natural heritage making it available to the public.