Heritage for a sustainable development: The World Heritage Sites and their impacts on cultural territories. Case studies from Armenia

Armenia has an extraordinary cultural heritage, rich and widespread throughout the territory. However, many threats make its preservation difficult: geological reasons (seismic risk, soil nature, etc.), lack of maintenance, economic and political issues. The rapid growth of tourism occurred in the last decade increased the pressure on heritage, highlighting the contradictions. In fact, from one side, it represents a great opportunity for an economic development and for the communities, a possibility for many territories marginalized for a long time. On the other hand, tourism can put in danger the preservation of sites already tested by long periods of lack of care. It is undeniable that Heritage can have a focus role in the sustainable development but, how is it possible to combine the protection of this invaluable legacy with the needs of development? The aim of the work is to experiment an integrated approach on the Monasteries of Haghpat, Sanahin, Geghard and moreover, in the Upper Azat Valley to explore possible synergies between different stakeholders involved: local institution, authorities, communities, professionals. The conservation of the Architectural Heritage of these sites is a priority for the identity safeguard but also to start virtuous processes able to ensure a sustainable development for places and communities. For these reasons, the focus of the research is not only oriented to the so-called “monuments” but also to the minor built heritage that surrounds them: itineraries, landscape, villages can contribute to the construction of tourist paths that start from the main interesting points to go into an immersive experience into the local reality. The working methodology is organized in some preliminary researches and studies oriented to build a deep and solid knowledge project, able to orient correctly the preservation and design phase. The main goal is to define some working steps able to implement some guiding principles for the correct setting of all the phases. The book represents the opportunity to systematize the results of a research work commissioned by the World Bank in the framework of Armenia—Local Economy and Infrastructure Development Project. For each site, a comprehensive master plan has been planned, together with a study of the surroundings to identify strategies to join the preservation of the sites with the creation of possible circuits for the economic improvement of the area. In addition, a broader study was extended to the northern region with the aim to identify itineraries for the promotion of cultural tourism.