The influence of interpretation on learning about architectural heritage and on the perception of cultural significance

Abstract

ABSTRACT Architectural heritage has great potential to motivate visits to some tourism destinations. The literature suggests that interpretation may contribute to expanding knowledge of cultural heritage and positively influence the formation of the cognitive image of this heritage. However, empirical evidence on the influence of interpretation of architectural heritage, both on learning and on image creation, is scarce and limited in scope. This paper aims to extend previous research by analysing the influence of interpretation on learning and on perceptions of the cultural significance of architectural heritage. It focuses on visitors to two buildings, located in the Portuguese town of Aveiro, already considered important tourism attractions. The study is based on a questionnaire survey and on an experimental method involving the creation of brochures about the buildings under analysis. The findings suggest that interpretation may contribute to learning about and recognition of the cultural significance of architectural heritage. The results reveal that visitors who used the brochure created for the study perceived the two buildings to have higher aesthetic value and, in the case of the cathedral, had greater knowledge about the building, compared to those who did not. The paper ends with theoretical and practical contributions to architectural heritage management.