Wartime landscapes and cultural heritage: the Gustav Line’s Abruzzo segment between historical memory and territorial development

The Gustav Line, constructed by the German army in the autumn of 1943, remained operational until the spring of 1944. The fortification system ran from the Adriatic to the Tyrrhenian Sea. The most impregnable stretch traversed the challenging mountainous terrain of the Maiella massif and the Altipiani Maggiori d’Abruzzo, where geology and morphology provided natural strongholds. In this area, which remained partly unconquered, war posts are preserved, and elements of the defensive network are still identifiable on the ground. These include trenches delimited by stone walls and rock banks, communication paths, lookout points, and anti-aircraft emplacements, often integrated with pre-existing infrastructures such as castles, hermitages, and pastoral routes. These traces dating back to the Second World War have recently garnered scholarly attention. A detailed census has been undertaken, with photographic and written records of the structures as well as GPS-assisted survey. Local scholars have actively participated in the research, sponsored by the Maiella Park and collaborative stakeholders involved in territorial promotion and cultural enhancement. War landscapes are fragments of a complex and dynamic socio-economic reality, reflecting the relationship between humans and the environment, and the interaction between different communities. This paper seeks to provide an overview of the main evidence related to the Gustav Line’s Abruzzo segment, with a strategic emphasis on cultural heritage valorisation and sustainable territorial development. Thematic itineraries built on the memories of the war have a strong evocative value, especially when embedded in a territorial network and integrated with the natural and anthropic features that define these places. The emerging methodological framework aligns with the guidelines of the Faro Convention, which emphasizes community-centered heritage management and the dynamic interpretation of collective cultural identities. By situating wartime archaeological sites within broader landscape narratives, this approach transcends traditional memorial practices, promoting a more nuanced, contextual understanding of historical landscapes.