Interpretation, history and heritage tourism: Evidences from Lamego cathedrals’ pórtico

Abstract

This study aims to show the approximation between the training of History and Tourism. A multidisciplinary team has researched the intersections between these scientific areas in an historic city in the north of Portugal (city of Lamego ). Was created an interpretive speech for the Pórtico of one of the most emblematic monuments of this historic city (Cathedral) and in-depth interviews were applied to 15 visitors.

We conclude that the interpretation of the historic resources allows the construction of a patrimonial tourist product. Through closer link between the historical discourse, interpretation and tourism is possible to create a differentiation of the patrimonial product making it a unique product and thus more attractive to the various segments.

In the construction of the discourses of the patrimonial elements, having as an end the presentation for the potential visitors, we discovered that both the historic and the touristic discourses have similarities, differing, mostly, in the language type that is used. Teaching history deposits in the narrative construction an opportunity to cultivate the history training of the students, in order to achieve historic consciousness. The narratives carved by tourism do not deny the historic ones, but their intention passes by the aggregation of modern values and interpretations that differentiate the heritage.