The perception of agrarian historical landscapes: a study of the Veneto plain in Italy

This article discusses the factors affecting landscape perception, with particular reference to the agrarian historical landscapes of the plains in the Veneto region of Italy. The main historical agrarian landscapes were identified, and their aesthetic value was compared with that of more modern landscapes. Surveys were conducted on three groups of inhabitants: children, university students and adults and three approaches were used to analyze the landscape preferences. First, the appreciation of each landscape was compared; second the effects of the various elements on landscape preferences were determined by means of photomontages; and finally, the visual impact of these elements, in improving or worsening the aesthetic quality of the landscape, was quantified using a statistical model. This made it possible to determine if, and to what extent, some aesthetic and cultural values are shared among the three generations of individuals included in this study. The results have demonstrated that some elements of the historical landscapes (villas and traditional farm buildings in particular) can increase the appreciation for the agrarian landscape in the three groups of interviewees. However, not all historical agrarian landscapes are appreciated. This suggests a need for landscape education programmes, especially for the young, so that future generations will favour interventions in the preservation of the historical and cultural agrarian landscapes.