ABSTRACT
Landscape in history has been a vital source of inspiration in art and literature. From ancient frescoes of Akrotiri to Roman murals in Pompeii, landscapes have adorned walls and canvases. Western art boasts luminaries like Leonardo da Vinci and Turner who depicted nature's beauty. Islamic art and Persian miniatures showcase landscapes too. Chinese and Japanese traditions have deep-seated landscape painting. Modern understanding of landscape stems from geographers like Humboldt and Hettner. Carl O. Sauer introduced “cultural landscape,” highlighting human impact. UNESCO's World Heritage Convention broadened views, embracing “cultural landscapes.” This sparked a shift towards valuing regions' holistic character. Cultural landscapes span diverse forms: designed, evolving, associative, urban, and natural. German and Persian gardens, New Zealand's spiritual Tongariro, and South Africa's Mapungubwe exemplify their scope. Wine-producing regions, like Italy's Langhe-Roero, highlight changing concepts. The European Landscape Convention and initiatives like LALI and National Landscape Programs reflect growing conservation efforts. “Landscape” is evolving into a dynamic heritage approach, integrating history, nature, and contemporary life.
