Profile

Roberta Varriale is senior researcher at the Institute for Studies on the Mediterranean (ISMed) from the National Research Council of Italy (CNR). She is/has been in charge for several international projects with Brazil, Japan and Peru, all focusing on elements of the class of Underground Built Heritage whose theoretical approach she recently published. She is c/leader for WG1 COSTACTION 18110 “Underground4value”, she is in charge for the CNR interdepartmental agreement “Southern Italy Underground Built Heritage-UBH”, she is in charge for cooperative agreements between CNR and more than 30 municipalities, geo/parks and supervision boards for cultural heritage and she was in charge for the project “DMS Regione Campania”. Research interests: social and economic growth, cultural heritage, governance, classification of elements of cultural heritage, support to local bodies. She is author of more than 80 publications in scientific journals and books, she is author of 2 monographies and edited several volumes. She was invited speaker to more than 50 academic and general public conferences and debates. She gave papers to more than 60 national and international congresses, specialized sessions and panels. She is component in commissions of local bodies and she is ICOMOS member.

LATEST OPEN ACCESS ARTICLES BY ROBERTA VARRIALE:

2023, Genovese L., Varriale R., Troglodyte settlements on the Loess Plateau of China: Challenges to sustainable tourism-oriented development. Journal of Chinese Architecture and Urbanism, 5(2), 0940. https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.0940, https://accscience.com/journal/JCAU/5/2/10.36922/jcau.0940

2023, Varriale, R. Oral History as a Source for the Interpretation of UBH: The World War II Shelters in Naples Case Study. Societies 2023, 13, 130. https://doi.org/10.3390/soc13050130

Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/13/5/130

2023, Varriale, R.; Aldighieri, B.; Genovese, L. Dismissed Mines: From the Past to the Future. Heritage, 6, 2152-2185. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage6020115

Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/6/2/115

2022, Varriale R., Genovese L., Aldighieri B., “Diffused Geoparks”: Territorial Integration as Solution for a Shared Sustainable Growth Based on Geotourism in Italy, Japan and Tunisia. Heritage, 5, 2083-2105. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage5030109

Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/5/3/109

2022, Varriale R., Ciaravino R., Underground Built Heritage and Food Production: From the Theoretical Approach to a Case/Study of Traditional Italian “Cave Cheeses”. Heritage, 5, 1865-1882. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage5030097

Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/5/3/97?type=check_update&version=2

2021, Varriale R., Genovese L., Underground Built Heritage (UBH) as Valuable Resource in China, Japan and Italy. Heritage, 4, 3208-3237. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage4040180

Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/4/4/180

2021, Varriale R., “Underground Built Heritage”: A Theoretical Approach for the Definition of an International Class. Heritage, 4, 1092-1118. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage4030061

Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/4/3/61

2019, Genovese L., Varriale, R., Luvidi, L., Fratini, F. “Italy and China Sharing Best Practices on the Sustainable Development of Small Underground Settlements”, Heritage, 2, 813-825.

Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/2/1/53

2019, Varriale R., “Re-Inventing Underground Space in Matera”, Heritage, 2, 1070–1084. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage2020070

Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/2/2/70

Curriculum Vitae

Publications

Main publications

2023, Genovese L., Varriale R., Troglodyte settlements on the Loess Plateau of China: Challenges to sustainable tourism-oriented development. Journal of Chinese Architecture and Urbanism, 5(2), 0940. https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.0940, https://accscience.com/journal/JCAU/5/2/10.36922/jcau.0940

2022, R. Varriale, M. Parise, L. Genovese, M. Leo, S.  Valese, Underground Built Heritage in Naples: From Knowledge to Monitoring and Enhancement S. D’Amico, V. Venuti (eds.), Handbook of Cultural Heritage Analysis, Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022, pp. 2001-2035, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-60016-7_70

2021, L. Genovese, L. Luvidi, R. Varriale, F. Fratini, Earthen walled villages in the Shanxi Province: Laoniuwan (老牛湾) case, in: L. Luvidi, F. Fratini, S. Rescic and J. Zhang (edited by), Past and Present of Earthen Architectures  in China and Italy, CNR Edizione, Roma, pp. 229-238..

2021, R. Varriale, L. Genovese, Underground Built Heritage (UBH) as Valuable Resource in China, Japan and Italy. Heritage, 4, 3208-3237. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage4040180

2021, R. Varriale, “Underground Built Heritage”: A Theoretical Approach for the Definition of an International Class. Heritage, 4, 1092-1118. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage4030061

2021, R. Varriale, “A Methodological Framework for UBH Classification”, in: Pace G., Salvarani R. (edited by), Underground Built Heritage Valorisation. A Handbook, CNR edizioni, pp. 31-41

2020, R. Varriale, “Underground Built Heritage in Italy and Japan. From the methodological approach to the comparative analysis of Pizzofalcone and Yoshimi Hyakuana hills case-studies”, in: R.Varriale, C.Oguki, M. Parise (edited by), “Damage assessment and conservation of underground space as valuable resources for human activities use in Italy and Japan”, Opera Ipogea, Special Issue, pp. 13-28.

2019, Genovese, L.; Varriale, R.; Luvidi, L.; Fratini, F. “Italy and China Sharing Best Practices on the Sustainable Development of Small Underground Settlements”, Heritage 2019, 2, 813-825.

2019, R. Varriale, “Re-Inventing Underground Space in Matera”, Heritage 2019, 2, 1070–1084; doi:10.3390/heritage2020070

2019, L. Luvidi, F. Fratini, S. Resic, L. Genovese, R Varriale, “Earthen Walled Villages in the Shanxi Province: an Heritage at Risk of Disappearing”, in: Vernacular and Earthen architecture toward local development, Tongji University Press, 2019, pp.163-170. ISBN 978-7-5608-8656-5

2019, R. Varriale, L.Genovese, L. Luvidi, F.Fratini, “Identification and Interpretation of a Cultural Route: Developing Integrated Solutions of Enhancing the Vernacular Historic Settlements”, in: Vernacular and Earthen architecture toward local development, Tongji University Press, 2019,pp.601-608. ISBN 978-7-5608-8656-5

2018, R. Varriale, “Underground archeological sites as drivers for social regeneration: The catacombs of San Gennaro in Naples”, in: L. Genovese, H. Yan, A. Quattrocchi (edited by), Preserving, managing and enhancing the archaeological sites: comparative perspectives between China and Italy, CNR edizioni, Roma, pp. 133-144. ISBN 978 88 8080 291 4

2017, R. Varriale, “Southern underground space: from the history to the future” in: M. Parise, C. Galeazzi, R. Bixio, A. Yamac (edited by), Hypogea 2017, Proceedings of international conference of speleology in artificial cavities, Cappadocia March 6/10, 2017, Dijital Düşler, Istanbul, pp. 548-555, ISBN 978-605-9690-37-02017, v. Lapenna, G. Leucci, M. Parise, H. Porfyriou, L. Genovese, R. Varriale, “A project to promote the natural and cultural heritage of the underground environment in Southern Italy” in: M. Parise, C. Galeazzi, R. Bixio, A. Yamac (edited by), Hypogea 2017, Proceedings of international conference of speleology in artificial cavities, Cappadocia March 6/10, 2017, Dijital Düşler, Istanbul, pp. 129-133d. ISBN 978-605-9690-37-0.

Projects

Relevant roles and competence:

• 2020, Regione Campania, Guidelines for planning Campania Region Destination Management System, in charge
• 2020, STM Perù, “Un ponte di ossa da Napoli a Lima”, Academia Pontificia, Lima, Peru, in charge
• 2019-2020, Bilateral project CNR/ JSPS (Japan) “Damage assessment and conservation of underground space as valuable resources for human activities use in Italy and Japan”, in charge
• 2019-today, Commission of experts for the definition of cultural itineraries within UNESCO Sites, Metropolitan City of Naples, member
• 2019-today, Cost Action CA18110 “Underground for Value”, MC member, co-leader WP1
• 2019- today, Joint lab project CNR-ICVBC/CSIC-IAM “ARCHAEOTECH” (Technologies and procedures for quality improvement procedures and time saving in the archaeological activities), participant
• 2019-today Bilateral project CNR/CACH (China), “Identificare e raccontare un percorso culturale: il caso della Via della Seta Marittima”, participant.
• 2018-2019 Bilateral project CNR/ JSPS (Japan) “Damage assessment and conservation of underground space as valuable resources for human activities use in Italy and Japan”, in charge
• 2016-2019 Bilateral project CNR/CACH (China), “Valorizzazione, Turismo e Partecipazione sociale. Sviluppo di soluzioni integrate alternative per siti storici meno promossi” participant
• 2015-today “Urban undergrounds in Southern Italy”, in charge 
• 2015 Novels from Underground Space (NUS). In cooperation with Ministero della Pubblica Istruzione e con il patrocinio di: Regione Campania, Comune di Napoli, Provincia di Napoli, in charge 
• 2010-2015 “Urban undergrounds in the Mediterranean”, in charge
• 2008, Urban undergrounds in Europe (EAUH), in charge
• 2007-2009 Undergrounds in Naples. In cooperation with Regione Campania, Comune di Napoli, Provincia di Napoli, Polizia di Stato, sponsored by: Provincia di Napoli,  Regione Campania, Metropolitana spa, Tecno-in srl, Ansaldo, in charge.