Creating Identity: Hidden Cultural Heritage, Ancient Landscapes and Cultural Routes in Sicily

In recent years, the phenomenon of “cultural routes” has increasingly spread all over European and Mediterranean countries. Different actors in Sicily have followed the trend, introducing these cultural products and adopting a bottom-up approach to the management of “minor cultural heritage.” An analysis of the narratives underlying these routes allows the identification of the cultural features involved in the creation of the island’s identity. To achieve this goal, the present paper will focus on two case studies, the Antica Trasversale Sicula and the Magna Via Francigena, and scrutinize the narratives used in the communication strategies at these sites (press, websites, and social media). Scholars have not yet considered the implications of this phenomenon for local historical narratives, nor have they assessed its significance in terms of economic gains and cultural identity formation. What historical documents and archaeological data have been used and how? When have these been misunderstood or deliberately modified? In the light of the scientific literature attesting the existence of ancient tracks, it is interesting to assess to what extent the proposed narratives match the historical-topographical evidence and investigate the connection between these experiences and the creation of new local identities