Sandra Leonardi

Sandra Leonardi is an Associate Professor in the Department of Modern Literature and Culture at Sapienza University of Rome, Faculty of Arts and Philosophy. She teaches courses including General Geography, Cultural Geography, and Sustainable Tourism and Territorial Development. Her institutional email is sandra.leonardi@uniroma1.it, and she maintains an active role in academic life at Sapienza, with regular office hours for student reception and involvement in various research initiatives.

Professor Leonardi's research focuses on geography, historical geography, cartography, and musealization processes. Her work particularly emphasizes the valorization and organization of geo-documentary and cartographic heritage. She explores how geographic knowledge can be organized and transmitted through historical documents, maps, and visual representations, with special attention to how these materials can inform contemporary understanding of landscapes and territories. Her research bridges historical documentation with modern digital applications.

Leonardi's recent publications (2022-2025) demonstrate a consistent focus on geographic heritage, with particular emphasis on the Museum of Geography at Sapienza University. Her work shows a clear trajectory from historical cartographic analysis toward digital applications and participatory approaches to heritage valorization. Key themes include landscape interpretation through historical documents, metaverse applications for geographic heritage, and educational approaches to global citizenship through geography.

Professor Leonardi leads the ORI (Observe, Represent, Imagine) research project focused on mapping geo-cartographic heritage for knowledge organization. She has been involved in numerous initiatives related to the Museum of Geography at Sapienza, working to recover, catalog, and valorize historical geographic collections. Her work demonstrates strong connections between academic research, cultural heritage preservation, and educational applications.