The Sacred Mounts of Piemonte and Lombardia as alternative and sustainable experience for religious tourism

Sacred Mounts are nowadays a sort of living organisms in which intimately merge religion, culture and nature and in which it is possible to realize complex experiences. These integrate artistic and religious contemplation with environmental fruition and evaluation of local identity. The Sacred Mounts of Piemonte and Lombardia are registered since 2003 in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List and are also included in the system of protected areas of the two Italian Regions, that care for their historical and artistic preservation and maintain and safeguard the surrounding environment. Starting from the analysis of the main characteristics of the Sacred Mounts and devotional itineraries in Piemonte and Lombardia, the paper aims to highlight how initiatives and projects of valorization and touristic promotion of these sites can play a significant role in the development of religious tourism. Some case study will propose to achieve this objective.