Unveiling ‘subtle violence’ in landscape governance and narratives: the case of the Euganean Hills

This article explores the connection between landscape and violence through the case study of the Euganean Hills in Northeastern Italy. Drawing from a political approach to landscape, the authors analyse overt forms of violence imprinted on the landscape as well as more subtle manifestations of violence embedded in institutional practices, narratives, and participatory processes in landscape governance. The study sheds light on how ‘subtle violence’ can be perpetuated through the trivialisation of landscape concepts, the instrumentalization of landscapes for tourism purposes, and the lack of genuine public participation. By unveiling these subtle forms of violence, the article calls for a more democratic and inclusive landscape governance that recognises the right to landscape and fosters spatial justice. The findings have implications for rethinking the role of institutional actors and processes in shaping just and sustainable landscapes.