Sustainable rural tourism. The case of museology

The rapid development of rural tourism must be sought in the increasing interest towards both the most authentic expression of the rural world and the fascination of natural cycles of rural life in contrast to the ‘phrenitis’ of modern life. The rural world can find in museology one of the main expressions of sustainable tourism. Rural museums, in fact, may have positive implications not only for tourists but even on local inhabitants and the environment. The reported case studies represent interesting examples of renewed tourist attention towards the mountain, its inhabitants and traditions.