WOOD BUILDINGS AND PATHS FOR HORSES: NEW AND MODERN OPERATIONS FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF RURAL MOUNTAIN AREAS

The rural and mountain landscape is increasingly undertaking a social function toward becoming a real destination for holidays and travel equal to famous tourist locations. One of the primary factors of the social economic development of the rural and mountain landscape is that tourism in these areas finds its maximum expression in hiking. In Italy, this type of “green ecotourism” is spreading out as an alternative type of tourism enabling it to repopulate the countryside and to exploit the history and culture of rural territories. The work has been developed in its first phase on topographic map, taking into consideration the points of major interest for tourists (castles, churches, etc.), every kind of accommodation structure (bed and breakfast, holiday farm, etc.) present in the area and the best way to unite the main structures. In the second phase each point of interest has been individualized and registered by G.P.S and the result of data G.I.S. elaboration has been the hiking tracks. When identifying and projecting hiking paths to satisfy all types of excursions, it is fundamental to always take into account that a “horse way” should have suitable characteristics of slope, surface and width ground, so that they can be also used by foot and mountain bike.