Sociocultural Perceptions of the Symbolic Landscape: Zacatecas Historical Center, México

Abstract

The importance to preserve the landscape lies in its own definition, which corresponds to the relationship that exists between humanity and the environment, a completely linked duality, and each landscape is distinguishable by its own characteristics. The objective of the research is to analyze the interpretation of landscape values through the social and cultural perception, in addition to recognizing its natural and cultural landscape components in the object of study: The Historic Center of Zacatecas, a site that expresses an important heritage. Methodologically, through the comparison between the photographs and surveys applied to four sectors of the population: visitors, inhabitants, merchants, and public officials, the most representative components of the landscape to safeguard were determined. This data collection method consisted of four stages (1.- Characterization, 2.- Survey design, 3.- Results, and 4.- Presentation of the most significant findings). Through the results obtained, the symbolic meanings of the landscape of this territory were recognized, and it was determined that the representative landscape components have specific characteristics that assign an image of their own in the city. The contribution of the research offers a proposal for an analysis model for territories with similar characteristics to those of this historic center.