Paesaggi culturali ed eventi gastronomici nella promozione turistica di Novara di Sicilia

The present paper aims at investigating the value of food as cultural expression. Starting from the analysis of the history of one of the villages on the mountains belonging to the metropolitan area of Messina, Novara di Sicilia, the focus of the investigation will be the relation between tourism, culture, and identity, which can find a significant point of reference in typical products such as “maiorchino” cheese. The present paper aims at representing a short reading about the role that cultural and culinary events can play in promoting tourism in places such as Novara di Sicilia, which, while being rich in environmental, landscape and cultural resources of great value. The strategic objective to be achieved is to reinforce competitiveness of the territory as a tourist destination, through a «dynamic protection» of natural and cultural heritage, intended as enhancement of the tourist product, in which business transformations meet with conservation of the historical-cultural heritage in a functional renovation.