Il turismo come conoscenza e valorizzazione intergenerazionale dell’ambiente: gli “Orti Solidali Caritas” a Viterbo.

This article is part of a long series of research and experimental projects in intergenerational tourism, which started in 2000 in the ‘Generational Encounters Study Group’ at the University of Milan. Study projects take a multi-methodological approach based on the principal theories of social psychology. These projects have been planned and monitored by A.R.I.P.T.-Fo.R.P, (Association of Interdisciplinary Research in Psychology of Tourism: Training, Research and Planning). The projects fit into this framework by promoting social-cultural and environmental learning experiences between participants of different generations. The aim is to analyse empathetic communication in a holiday setting between small groups made up of youngsters and similar groups of elderly (which we call ‘Grandparent-Grandchild Group). The contribution summarizes the results of the most recent research projects in Central Italy (Viterbo). These projects confirm the three phases of communication development introduced by Albanese in 2001: “drawing close—getting to know each other —empathy”. The fourth phase has been defined ‘group generative creativity’, in support of a sustainable natural and socio-cultural environment. Reflecting upon this fourth phase, empathetic collaborations have continued during additional free-time creative activities involving the two generational groups: the creation of two urban woodland areas (2012) and collaboration in “Solidarity vegetable plots” (from 2016). The article focuses the Solidarity vegetable plots, with the network of Institutions and Organisations collaborating with Caritas, including intergenerational ‘Grandparent-Grandchild Group’. New opportunities of improvement of this specific context have been suggested, together with the idea of an event useful to define inclusive, solidarity and intergenerational projects for the next future.