Salvatore CANNIZZARO
Full Professor at the Department of Humanities of the University of Catania, where he teaches Cultural Geography and Geography of Cultural Routes. His life path and academic career deeply reflect his roots in the Sicilian territory, combined with solid research experience at a national level.
Born in Butera, in the province of Caltanissetta, he has maintained an unbreakable bond with Sicily. He lived for a long time in Aci Castello, a seaside village steeped in mythological and literary charm, before moving to Catania, the city where he currently resides and carries out his main scientific and institutional activities.Winner of a CNR-IRAT research fellowship in Naples, his academic training was consolidated in Sardinia, where he obtained his PhD in Environmental Geography from the University of Sassari. He served as head of the "Mediterranean Observatory 2010" research project and held a post-doctoral research fellowship at the University of Catania focusing on "The Enhancement of Minor Towns in Southern Italy". He coordinated the "Euro-Mediterranean" scientific committee of the Italian Society of Tourism Sciences (SISTUR) and taught a course on "Territorial Organization for Tourism" at the Institut Supérieur des Études Appliquées en Humanités de Tozeur of the University of Gafsa (Tunisia). He also served as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Macerata, where he taught Cultural Geography, Landscape and Environmental Geography, Economic-Political Geography, and Geography of Rural Areas within the degree program in Tourism Sciences.
Upon returning to Sicily, he continued his teaching and scientific activities at the University of Catania. He serves as Vice President of ERSU Catania (the Regional Body for the Right to Higher Education) and is a member of the teaching staff for the PhD program in Heritage Sciences and Cultural Production. He is also a member of the management committee of the Center for Geographical Planning and Research at the University of Catania. Furthermore, he was the founder and coordinator of the national research group "Ecomuseums, culture and nature" of the Association of Italian Geographers, as well as the coordinator of the Riviera dei Ciclopi Ecomuseum.
He is the editor-in-chief of the book series "Atlante. Ambiente, Cultura, Territorio" published by Pontecorboli Editore in Florence. Additionally, he serves on the scientific committee of the following editorial series: "Geografia, Paesaggio e Pianificazione territoriale" by Universitas Studiorum Publishing House in Mantova, "Geografia, culture e società" by Nuova Trauben Publishing House in Turin, and "Geographies of the Anthropocene" published by Il Sileno Editore in Lago (CS).
He has published approximately one hundred articles in scientific journals, including Cambridge Scholars Publishing, Studi e Ricerche socio-territoriali, Geotema, Rivista Geografica Italiana, New Medit, Bollettino della Società Geografica Italiana, and Geography Notebooks. He has edited collective volumes for Pontecorboli Editore in Florence: “Beni culturali, ecomusei e sviluppo territoriale” (2025), “Ecomusei in Sicilia. Esperienze, proposte, progetti” (2023), and "Ambiente Cultura Territorio. Saggi di Geografia culturale" (2021); for Pàtron Editore in Bologna: "L'ecomuseo dell'Etna tra Natura, Mito e Cultura" (2020); "Cultura e creatività per la valorizzazione del territorio" (2018); and “Per una geografia del turismo” (2011). He is also the author of the following monographs: "Turismo e itinerari culturali in Sicilia" (Pontecorboli, 2022), “Paesaggio in Sicilia. Dialogo territoriale ed episodi paesaggistici” (Pàtron, 2013), “Il Mediterraneo. Dalla frattura regionale al processo d’integrazione” (Pàtron, 2009), and “Media e territorio. Reti di comunicazione e divario digitale” (Edizioni Universitarie Maceratesi, 2008).
Following a long-standing commitment to research activities focused on cultural geography, tourism geography, and territorial development, his current work mainly focuses on case studies related to the enhancement of territorial heritage and local development.
- Local Coordinator (PI_D) of the interdepartmental research group, "Geosites and abandoned mines in Sicily: design of cultural and naturalistic itineraries for recovery, enhancement, and tourism promotion (GEO-ROUTES)", University Research Plan PiaCeri 2024/2026, Department of Humanities, University of Catania.
- Local Coordinator (PI_D) of the interdepartmental research group, "Clustering for the reorganization of Sicilian inland areas (CRASI)", University Research Plan PiaCeri 2020/2021, Department of Humanities, University of Catania.
- Member of the Management Committee of the PROGEO Research Center - Center for Geographical Design and Research of the University of Catania, Rectoral Decree no. 1549 of May 23, 2019. Deputy Director as per the resolution of the Research Center Board on November 5, 2019.
- Research activity for the design of the "Valle del Loddiero" Ecomuseum in the territory of Militello in Val di Catania - Metropolitan City of Catania, UNESCO Club of Militello in Val di Catania, since April 6, 2019.
- Member of the Geo-Cartographic Research Center for Studies and Documentation (GeCo) of the University of Trento, the Autonomous Province of Trento, and the Municipality of Rovereto, since September 16, 2019, Director: Prof. Elena Dai Prà.
- Coordinator (PI) of the research group, "Etna Ecomuseum. Management tool and territorial ethics (E.M.E.T.)", University Research Plan Prometeo 2016/2018, Department of Humanities, University of Catania, Funding Line 3, from December 1, 2017, to July 31, 2020.
- Coordinator of the Association of Italian Geographers (A.Ge.I.) research group, "Ecomuseum network for the enhancement of local identities", from September 8, 2016, to September 10, 2022. ageiweb.it/gruppi-di-lavoro/una-rete-ecomuseale-per-la-valorizzazione-delle-identita-locali/
- Member of research groups within the Association of Italian Geographers (A.Ge.I.)
- "Commercial spaces between tradition and innovation", coordinator: Prof. Rosario Sommella, University of Naples L'Orientale, since October 25, 2007;
- "From thermal sites to hubs and local systems of integrated tourism", coordinator: Prof. Giuseppe Rocca, University of Genoa, since May 20, 2013;
- "Territorial reorganization and local development: what elements of contact?", coordinator: Prof. Girolamo Cusimano, University of Palermo, since June 23, 2014;
- "Geography and Literature", coordinator: Prof. Dino Gavinelli, University of Milan, since November 23, 2017;
- "Coastal Heritage", coordinator: Prof. Antonella Ivona, University of Bari, since September 20, 2019.
- Member of the PRIN Research Unit (Year 2015) - Scientific Coordinator: Lida Viganoni, Principal Investigator of the local unit at the University of Palermo: Girolamo Cusimano, Sector SH3, duration 36 months, project title: "Commerce, consumption and the city: practices, planning and governance for urban inclusion, resilience and sustainability."
- Member of the European Union International Project "Future of Our Past", creation of a Mediterranean Network of cities, policy makers, and stakeholders, project proposed by the ENPI Cross-Border Cooperation in the Mediterranean Programme, coordinated by the Italian Geographical Society, partner: UNIMED - Mediterranean Universities Union, since April 16, 2015.
- Member of the Research Project "The 'Tourism System' in Sicily. Nodes and case studies", FIR (Research Funding) Project 2014 of the University of Catania, coordinator: Nunzio Famoso, Department of Humanities.
- Research activity for the design of the "Riviera dei Ciclopi" Ecomuseum of the Municipality of Aci Castello - Metropolitan City of Catania, (Resolution of the Municipal Executive Body of February 25, 2014).
- Member of the Operational Unit of the RAS Project (Promotion of Scientific Research and Technological Innovation in Sardinia), July 2012, research project title: "Conservation and enhancement of Sardinian caves: biodiversity and socio-economic-cultural role", Department of Natural Sciences, University of Sassari.
- Scientific Coordinator of the "Euro-Mediterranean" Commission of the Italian Society of Tourism Sciences (SISTUR), three-year period 2010-2012.
- Head of Operational Coordination for the project "Use and development of multimedia and hypertextual tools, including Web environments, to support teaching, training, upgrading, and professional development of teaching and non-teaching staff in schools of all levels", Center for Orientation and Training of the University of Catania, period: November 23, 2009 – April 23, 2010.
- Principal Investigator (PI) of research projects funded by University grants (ex quota 60%), project title: "The Mediterranean: from socio-cultural fracture to the regional integration process", (years 2008, 2009), Department of Education and Training Sciences, University of Macerata.
- Member of the PRIN Research Unit (Year 2008) – Scientific Coordinator: Carlo Brusa, Principal Investigator of the local unit at the University of Catania: Gaetano Sciuto, Area 11, duration 24 months, project title: "Migrations and processes of cultural interaction. Forms of integration and territorial organization in Sicily."
- Member of the "Tunisia Country Project" of the Department of Cooperation and Trade of the Sicilian Region, representing the "Mediterranean 2010" Observatory of the University of Catania during the Cultural Operational Mission in Tunis (September 3–6, 2007), within the framework of the POR Sicily 2000/2006, internationalization action of the "Sicilian System".
- Head of the Research Unit of the "Mediterranean 2010" Scientific-Cultural Observatory, research project of the Faculty of Foreign Languages and Literatures, University of Catania, period: February–December 2006; February–October 2007.
- Executive Director of the research project "Training activities in the field: Analysis of environmental discomfort and communication methods", I.R.S.S.A.T. (Institute for Research, Development, and Experimentation on Environment and Territory), Faculty of Foreign Languages and Literatures, University of Catania, academic year 2005/2006.
- Member of the Research Group for the project "Sicilian Landscape. Creation of multimedia files", Department of Sciences of Culture, Man, and Territory, University of Catania, period: October 1, 2005 – November 30, 2005.
- Member of the Coordinating Committee for scientific and cultural activities under the cooperation agreement between the University of Catania and the "Cheikh Anta Diop" University of Dakar (Resolution of the Academic Senate of the University of Catania dated 19/04/2004).
- Member of the PRIN Research Unit (Year 2002) – Scientific Coordinator: Berardo Cori, Principal Investigator of the local unit at the University of Catania: Nunzio Famoso, Area 11, duration 24 months, project title: "The role of the family system in demographic and settlement dynamics during the transition from rural-archaic to urban-industrial Sicily."
- Research Fellow (Assegno di Ricerca) at the Department of Sciences of Culture, Man, and Territory, University of Catania, within the academic discipline M-GGR/01 Geography, from 2/5/2001 to 2/8/2005; research program: "The enhancement of small towns in Southern Italy."
- Member of the CNR-MEDUC (Mediterranean Urban Change) Research Group (Year 1999) of the National Research Council, coordinated by Prof. Gisella Cortesi of the University of Pisa.
- C.N.R. (National Research Council) Research Grantee, Institute of Research on Service Activities of Naples, research topic: "Human being, environment and development in Mediterranean societies", 15/03/1995–15/01/1996.
- Member of the Coordinating Committee for the management of the Environmental Recovery Plan for the high-risk area of the Province of Caltanissetta, coordinated by the Regional Department of Territory and Environment (period: March 1996 – April 2000; February 2003 – December 2004).
- Member of the "Tunisia Country Project" of the Department of Cooperation and Trade of the Sicilian Region, representing the "Mediterranean 2010" Observatory of the University of Catania during the Cultural Operational Mission in Tunis (September 2007).
- Member of the Special Commission of the Regional Observatory for Landscape Quality, Regional Department of Cultural Heritage and Sicilian Identity, period: from March 14, 2012, to May 29, 2015.
- Coordinator of the "Riviera dei Ciclopi" Ecomuseum of the Municipality of Aci Castello (Metropolitan City of Catania).
- President of the Technical-Scientific Committee of the "Valle del Loddiero" Ecomuseum of the Municipalities of Militello in Val di Catania and Scordia (Metropolitan City of Catania).
- Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Management Consortium of the "Isole dei Ciclopi" Marine Protected Area.
- Member of the National Culture Commission of UnionTurismo.
- Member of the Geo-Cartographic Research Center for Studies and Documentation (GeCo) of the University of Trento and the Autonomous Province of Trento.
- Deputy Director of the Management Committee of the ProGeo Research Center (Center for Geographical Design and Research) of the University of Catania.
- Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Regional Body for the Right to Higher Education (ERSU) of the University of Catania.