The Age of RuinenlustAn Exploration of Tourism and Ruins in the Urban Context, in Rome, during the Grand Tour 

This study investigates the dynamic nature and influence of ruins in Rome, during the Grand Tour. Adopting an urban perspective, it employs a mixed-methods approach, aligning quantitative mapping of British travelers with qualitative assessment of cultural trends, physical adaptations, and representations of the city. Identifying the mid-18th century as a pivotal phase, this synergistic approach helps to illuminate how the city and its past were co-constructed and transformed simultaneously by hosts and visitors. This way, it emphasizes the impact of cultural shifts and socioeconomic changes on the interpretation of the city’s history.

Overall, this research contributes to explaining how heritage, culture, and urbanism interconnect while underscoring the significance of early tourism in the dissemination of ideas during the formative years of modernity. These insights can be of use in current discourses and debates on issues like heritage commodification or over-tourism, by providing a more solid background and an interesting historical case study.