Browsing by Author "Zarrilli, Luca"
Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
Results Per Page
Sort Options
Item Alcântara (Lisbon): From Industrial District to Tourist Destination. A Survey(2020) Zarrilli, Luca; Brito, MiguelThe tourist image of Lisbon and its uniqueness was shaped through the existence of “popular neighbourhoods”, spaces of intense and unchangeable social life where the elements of cultural life are present as a landmark of each different space. Alcântara, Bica, Alfama, Mouraria, and Madragoa are examples of traditional Lisbon neighbourhoods, which today continue to be closely associated with specific representations of the city and of its people’s ways of life within the city As part of the tourism development that Lisbon has been experiencing in recent years, one of the emerging neighbourhoods is Alcântara, a former industrial district that is currently undergoing a functional reconversion. Situated by the river Tagus, next to the museum district of Lisbon (Belém), and not far from the town centre (Baixa), it presents a different tourist supply: besides the traditional local heritage, composed of monuments, palaces and museums, it is probably the best district of Lisbon to recall the industrial era, its buildings, activities and ways of life. This article deals with the transition process of the neighbourhood from an economic fabric based on industry to a tertiary type of area, within which a special reference to the tourism sector is given. As a reaction to the increasing demand of the tourists, several hotels, apartments and other types of local accommodation have emerged in the neighborhood. In Alcântara tourists seek for the trendy local restaurants, unique libraries, modern business opportunities and young entrepreneurs’ shops, which concentrate in former industrial facilities now reconverted into cultural and commercial activities, such as LX Factory and Village Underground. To understand this transformation a qualitative-quantitative method was used. Besides the documental analysis and the field research, a survey was conducted aimed at understanding the type of tourists visiting the district, their motivations and their assessment of the characteristics of Alcântara. The results show that Alcântara is an attractive district for young tourists interested in discovering trendy places. Alcântara’s barycentric position is also significant both in the transport network and in the tourist geography of the metropolitan area of Lisbon.Item The Role of Iceland in the Arctic Issue: Diplomacy, Threats, Opportunities(2020) Zarrilli, Luca; Iacuone, SilviaRecently the Arctic has been spoken of as the new "navel of the world": Starting from an environmental aspect - the melting of the ice of the polar ice cap - a series of issues of extraordinary interest are emerging in the fields of geoeconomics, geopolitics, energy, trade, law and military strategy. The actors of this "game" are the member countries of the Arctic Council (Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the United States), the so-called “permanent observers” countries (China, South Korea, Japan, India, Italy, Singapore, Switzerland) and international and transnational institutions such as the United Nations, NATO and the European Union. In this paper we want to analyse in particular the case of Iceland. It has always maintained a favorable condition of isolation/integration, from an economic and military point of view: Iceland is a member State of NATO and therefore, despite not having an army, sees its defense ensured within this organization; at the same time, it is well integrated with Europe (it is part of its economic area as an ex-EFTA country and adheres to the Schengen agreement), although it is not an EU member country. Located halfway between North America and Europe, Iceland certainly occupies a strategic position in this new geopolitical scenario. Between environmental problems, new economic interests, expansionist aims of world powers and global repercussions, it can be interesting to understand the role of this small state in the Arctic issue, its foreign policy, its defense strategies but also its room for maneuver. At the same time, Iceland seems interested in seizing the economic opportunities that may arise from new diplomatic relationships, such as the recent agreement with China, the latter being interested in fostering an additional trade route - the Transpolar Route - which would pass right from Iceland.