Guided tours in historical and religious sites: emotional restoration and the role of individual differences

Introduction: This study investigated how guided tours to historical and religious environments, specifically the archaeological site of Aquileia and the Benedictine Abbey of Praglia, both located in north-eastern Italy can influence perceived restorativeness and emotional responses (valence and arousal).Methods: A total of 149 participants completed questionnaires before and after a 45-min guided tour, assessing demographic variables, religiosity, connectedness to nature, emotional responses, perceived stress over the last month, and restorativeness.Results: Results revealed that emotional valence increased from pre- to post-visit at both sites, while arousal remained stable at Praglia, but increased at Aquileia. Restorativeness was positively predicted by the significance attributed to the visit, particularly regarding artistic, cultural, and historical values (Praglia and Aquileia), along with individual differences such as connectedness to nature (Aquileia) and perceived stress (Praglia).Discussion: Overall, visits to religious and historical sites in natural settings enhanced positive emotions, with site-specific differences in arousal. Perceived restorativeness was associated not only with the cultural and historical significance attributed to the visit but also with individual factors such as connectedness to nature and stress levels. These results highlight the role of both contextual meaning and personal characteristics in shaping restorative experiences, offering practical implications for designing guided tours that maximize psychological benefits.