The mountains as we know them today are not the same ones that have marked the Alpine landscape over the centuries. The real change occurred around the year 1000, when a colonization process began that lasted around four centuries by populations of predominantly Germanic origin who were able to count on the benevolence of the climate and the favor of political powers. It is the era in which settlements are born regulated by important concessions in terms of rights and freedoms but it is also the era in which vast compact forests are flanked by open rural spaces: the uniform wildness, poor in biodiversity, is replaced by the cultural landscape of human activities, producers of biodiversity. The mountain therefore becomes more livable and enjoyable both in an aesthetic and ecological sense. This is the beginning of a fruitful dialogue between nature and culture.
Annibale Salsa taught Philosophical Anthropology and Cultural Anthropology at the University of Genoa, studied the genesis and transformation of the identities of the populations of the Alps, deals with themes and problems relating to the Anthropology of mountain tourism with particular reference to the Alps. From 2004 to 2010 he held the position of General President of the Italian Alpine Club (CAI). He is the author of numerous publications including l tramonto delle identità tradizionali. Spaesamento e disagio esistenziale nelle Alpi, Priuli & Verlucca publishers 2007, awarded with the "Golden Card" ITAS Award 2008.