Toponymy is the discipline that systematically studies the names of a place, looking to identify their meaning and origin.

In the study of the landscape, place-names are very important for the geographical insight needed to better understand the relationship between man and the environment.

Toponymy is a line of research widely used as a tool for geographical studies in different environmental contexts. Geographical studies have already categorised place names into three main categories: physical geography, human geography and socio-economic geography.

This session aims to stimulate research that associates toponymy with the physical-geographical features of the landscape, sometimes even suggesting a level of hazard or scientific, scenic, landscape or cultural singularity.

In fact, there are many different place-names attributed to the types of landforms, to slope processes such as accelerated erosion, landslides and debris-mud flows, and to volcanic, glacial, karstic, fluvial and coastal morphologies. Sometimes the toponymy also suggests useful information on the geological nature of the bedrock, the hydrogeological and pedological features of the areas.

A careful interpretation of toponymy of a physical-geographical nature can also allow for the interpretation and evolution of natural processes, and could be used in spatial planning activities, thus allowing it to be considered an effective, original and friendly tool for a more complete comprehension of the geomorphological landscape.