Architectural Heritage and Tourism Development in Urban Neighborhoods: The Case of Upper City, Thessaloniki, Greece

Abstract

AbstractInherited from past generations, cultural heritage, the legacy of physical objects and intangible qualities of culture, comprises a range of terms, such as architectural heritage, archaeological sites and cultural landscapes, providing opportunities for leisure and tourism, when properly maintained and wisely handled. On the urban level, the dynamic relationship between cultural heritage and tourism is even more apparent. Urban cultural tourism, which also focuses on traditional communities, is a growing trend worldwide, attracting attention from different fields such as tourism management, architecture, urban planning and environmental sciences. This chapter focuses on the subject of traditional urban communities’ architectural heritage and tourism growth based on a holistic and integrated understanding of the dimensions embedded in urban heritage ensembles, e.g., historical, spatial economic and social. The case study makes reference to the Upper City (Ano Poli) of Thessaloniki, a historic neighborhood in one of Greece’s most popular cities for cultural tourism, due to its continuous urban presence for more than twenty-three centuries and its multicultural history. Ano Poli is among the areas of Thessaloniki's urban fabric endowed with historic architectural and spatial planning elements, attracting many visitors. The chapter investigates the perceptions of Erasmus students–tourists toward architectural heritage tourism in general and specifically for the Upper City and the city of Thessaloniki, so as to explore a most promising segment of the rising cultural tourism market. The study analysis and research results lead to a better understanding of the significance of architectural heritage in urban tourism.KeywordsArchitectural heritageUrban neighborhoodsTourismThessaloniki