This paper aims to explore public participation for activating underground built heritage (UBH). It describes and analyses practices of stakeholders’ engagement in different UBH assets, based on experiences gathered in the scope of the European COST Action ‘Underground4value’. It brings together five inspiring cases from Italy, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, in which digital and mobile technologies were used as tools to improve community experiences in UBH. Thus, the paper discusses ‘smartness’ from the perspective of people and communities around cultural assets, where ‘smartness’ becomes a new connotation and a pathway to advance (local) knowledge and know-how. Therefore, this paper takes on the challenge to define a smart city as an ecosystem for people’s empowerment and participation, and, in particular, to explore social tools for creating new values in heritage placemaking—where sharing knowledge becomes a fundamental principle.

The Portuguese Eremitical Congregation of São Paulo in Serra de Ossa was founded in 1482, combining a large number of eremitical settlements – documented since 1366, mostly in the Alentejo region – under a centralized government. In 1578, an autonomous congregation was set up, and became then affiliated with the Hungarian Order of Saint Paul the First Hermit. Their settlements were turned into monasteries, most of them only extinct due to the decree of dissolution of the religious orders in 1834. This article attempts to fill in the gaps found in the material study of the Congregation’s settlements; the authors have carried out an examination of the seventeen examples – sometimes just traces – through a literature review, an archival dataset, on-site morphological and spatial analyses, with a focus on two case studies: Santa Cruz de Rio Mourinho and Nossa Senhora da Consolação de Alferrara. This preliminary survey shows continuities in the communities’ choices of location, the strategy of occupation, the architectural morphology features. The study aims to contribute to the diffusion of information about this monastic network, and to the creation of protective policies in relation to this cultural heritage, since all these monasteries have lost their original function and values.

Purpose: This study investigates how the adaptive reuse of religious heritage, particularly monastic and conventual buildings, can promote cultural resilience and sustainable development in low-density rural areas. Focusing on the Alentejo region of Southern Portugal, it addresses a gap in heritage literature by moving beyond tourism-centric models to explore socio-cultural dimensions of reuse. The research aims to understand how such reuse can enhance community well-being, foster identity and contribute to inclusive territorial development. Design/methodology/approach: A mixed-methods approach was adopted, combining quantitative and qualitative techniques. The study systematically mapped 131 monastic and conventual sites in Alentejo, analyzing ownership, conservation state, current use and relevant heritage policies. This was complemented by three in-depth case studies employing comparative ethnography to examine cultural reuse initiatives. The triangulation of data allowed for a comprehensive understanding of the drivers, barriers and outcomes of adaptive reuse practices in rural heritage contexts. Findings: The research highlights both opportunities and constraints in reusing religious heritage in rural areas. Key barriers include restrictive regulations, insufficient funding and conflicts between conservation standards and innovation. However, successful case studies illustrate that participatory, multidisciplinary and multi-stakeholder reuse processes can revitalise heritage sites. These practices enhance local identity, strengthen social cohesion and promote ecological awareness, revealing adaptive reuse as a viable tool for fostering resilience and inclusive rural development. Research limitations/implications: While offering valuable insights, the study is limited by its geographic focus on the Alentejo region, which may affect generalisability. Further research in diverse rural contexts is needed to test the applicability of the findings. Additionally, longitudinal studies could better assess long-term impacts of reuse initiatives. Nonetheless, the study provides a solid foundation for expanding theoretical and practical understanding of cultural resilience in heritage management. Practical implications: The study offers actionable recommendations for policymakers, planners and heritage practitioners. It underscores the importance of integrating adaptive reuse into territorial development strategies and fostering community-led governance models. Findings advocate for diversified funding mechanisms and cross-sectoral collaboration to overcome resource and policy barriers. The research also supports capacity-building among local stakeholders to ensure sustainable and inclusive heritage reuse. Social implications: Adaptive reuse of monastic heritage can reinforce cultural identity, encourage civic participation and facilitate intergenerational knowledge transfer in rural communities. By promoting local engagement and inclusive decision-making, reuse projects can help rebuild social networks and enhance community resilience. These initiatives not only preserve the physical fabric of heritage sites but also contribute to social sustainability and democratic heritage stewardship. Originality/value: This study presents an original integration of adaptive reuse and cultural resilience frameworks in the context of rural religious heritage. By focusing on both tangible and intangible dimensions, it contributes a holistic perspective to the heritage reuse discourse. The work is among the first to systematically explore non-tourism-based reuse in low-density regions, offering a replicable methodology and strategic insights for advancing community-centered heritage practices.

Reconstruction of the landscape of late medieval southern Portugal is hampered by the scarceness of physical evidence after the subsequent centuries of evolution. The aim of this article is to understand how the spread of eremitical communities in this region interacted with the existing landscape, contributing to its transformation. A multiscale analysis is carried out through the examination of historical records containing scattered data about the landscape system. This methodology is applied to a specific case study, the Portuguese eremitical congregation of São Paulo da Serra de Ossa, in southern Portugal. Although fragmentary and dispersed, primary sources from between 1366 and 1578 are useful in reconstructing the components of this landscape. Initial results show the definition of a typical Mediterranean form of settlement: “agro-sylvo-pastoral.”