Heritage places and the place attachment of adolescents: The case of the Castelo of Vila Nova de Cerveira (Portugal)

Abstract

Heritage places represent a reference for past action and experience since memories, values, and desires can be stored and processed externally. This emotional link is known as ‘place attachment’ that, according to different studies, is a high predictor for place-protective actions. Therefore, local community involvement has been fundamental to the conservation of heritage, and to sustaining tourism development. Studying the case of Vila Nova de Cerveira, a village that is suffering progressively rural gentrification at the same time that heritage places are experiencing a process of commodification, it is possible to offer insights into how gentrification affects the community place attachment of adolescents in an environment of social change using a qualitative methodology. In a way, material heritage becomes deterritorialized and dislocated from everyday life. Studies of place attachment need to also include an ethnographic dimension, to consider new situations which emerge when heritage places have become detached from the youth of the historical community.