Promote the naturalistic and archaeological heritage in the caves of the Adriatic Region (ADRION) to implement the tourist offer and extend it to the autumn and spring months, with the adoption of a Charter of the Caves and the creation of an international brand.
This is the goal of the Adriaticaves Project, animated by public bodies and private companies from six European countries that will meet in Sulmona (L'Aquila) on 14 June to sign the Charter.
And it is in view of this appointment that the Abbey of Santo Spirito al Morrone, operational headquarters of the Maiella National Park - Adriaticaves Lead Partner - hosted the workshop "Speleological tourism and the Adriaticaves Project - The map of the caves as a means of sustainable management of the underground environments in the territory of the Maiella Park ": the starting point for talking about the" Charter "as an agreement to guarantee the sustainable tourist use of the caves that can be visited and respect for the historical-cultural heritage connected to the underground environments.
The project, explained the director of the Park Luciano Di Martino, aims to create a network of tourist caves, as well as to protect those not open to the public, threatened by climate change and anthropogenic interference.
see illegal landfills, material extraction, uncontrolled visits.
The "Adriaticaves" project arises from the "Interreg VB Transnational Program of the Adriatic-Ionian Program 2014-2020" and is aimed at the sustainable management and promotion of tourism in underground sites of high natural, historical-archaeological and cultural value.
It involves the caves of the Adriatic-Ionian area and provides for a pan-European partnership consisting of: Maiella National Park, Management Body for Parks and Biodiversity of the Emilia Romagna Region, Regional Council of Shkodra (Albania), Cantonal Management Body of the Areas Protected (Bosnia and Herzegovina), city of Cacak (Serbia), Velebit Natural Park (Croatia), Lipa Cave Ltd company (Montenegro).
The mayors of Lama dei Peligni and Taranta Peligna (Chieti) for the Grotta del Cavallone, the mayor of Sante Marie (L'Aquila) for the Grotta della Luppa, the administration of Bolognano (Pescara) took part in the meeting in Sulmona. for the Grotta Scura, among the associations the Abruzzese Speleological Federation, the Aquilano Speleological Group, the Graim, the Maiella industrial archeology research group.
At the center of the round table, together with the director, the vice president of the Park, as well as the mayor of Lama dei Peligni, Tiziana di Renzo, the figures of tourist cave guide and speleological guide.
"A tourist cave guide - explained Di Martino - provides information about the cave's ecology, geological features, underground formations, historical and / or archaeological peculiarities. In addition to good communication skills, they should have basic notions on safety measures on the routes. artificial in relatively safe environments (with the presence of fences and fixed lights). A speleological guide - added Di Martino - should have the same background, but is a more specialized figure, able to lead tourists outside the artificial paths to explore hard-to-reach treasures.