Attracting public interest in astronomy through art and cultural heritage

Abstract

This paper is an overview of the cultural project ''Second star to the right”, which is an Astro-tourism project carried out by the Italian Institute for Astrophysics (INAF) and the creative agency Bas Bleu Illustration. An interdisciplinary good practice that aims at connecting art, tourism, history and astronomy thus bringing science closer to the public, targeting different audiences. Astronomy and astronomical phenomena have always inspired art, music,and literature and had an important role in our culture. Many of the major monuments in Italy are impressively connected to Astronomy.