F3) From Religious Sites to Cinematographic Sets. The Symbolism of Religious Cultural Heritage in the Italian Serie “Lolita Lo Bosco”.

Religious cultural heritage is a fundamental pillar of territorial identity, especially in regions with a deep historical heritage such as Apulia, in the South of Italy. In addition, it has historically been a key element in the construction of audiovisual narratives, providing symbolic depth to the stories and enriching their aesthetics. The Italian series Lolita Lo Bosco, A Tv series set in Apulia (Italy), takes advantage of these sacred spaces not only as physical scenarios, but also as vehicles of cultural and symbolic significance, historical memory, traditions and tensions between modernity and cultural heritage. This presentation analyzes the use of churches, monasteries and other religious places in the series, exploring how these spaces configure the identity of the characters and reinforce narrative tensions. Religion, sacred art and historical architecture dialogue with contemporary dynamics shaping the present landscape. Beyond its scenographic function, these places transmit values, historical memory and elements of the Apulian territorial identity, establishing a dialogue between the sacred and the profane. The research will examine how religious architecture, and its artistic elements contribute to the construction of a visual imaginary that reinforces the police plot and the moral dilemmas of the characters. Likewise, the relationship between religious symbolism and the representation of crime, justice and redemption in the series will be addressed. Finally, this presentation proposes a reflection on the impact of the use of religious cultural heritage on television fiction and its role in the preservation and reinterpretation of the historical legacy and territorial identity. It will highlight how Lolita Lo Bosco offers a contemporary vision of religious heritage, fusing tradition and modernity in a narrative that transcends the purely visual to generate deep meanings in the viewer.