Co-management of religious heritage: An Italian case-study

The flow of tourists to sites and sacred buildings increases exponentially in response to a growing demand for spirituality, authenticity and search of cultural roots. In this context, community and church institutions are representing a new role within the tourism system that is increasingly becoming the constellation of value - set of mutual relations among actors, both public and private, all with the common goal of meeting needs relative to their responsibilities and competencies. The ecclesiastical cultural heritage is an asset of absolutely inestimable value, particularly in Italy. It involves complex issues and huge responsibility to present relatively high cost of maintenance and enhancement of functions and the heterogeneity of the use related to them. Therefore the aim of this paper is to present the case study of the site that have successfully responded to these challenging circumstances and adapted well. The case study describes how the Association Oltre il Chiostro in Naples has contributed to the restoration, reopening and showcasing some of the most important churches in the city centre, building in the process a complex network of relations and an innovative management system.