An Integrated Approach to the Valorization and Management of Small Historical Centres in Italy: Good Policies and Good Practices (original) (raw)

The paper illustrates good policies and practices from Italy for the valorization and management of small historical centres. This topic has great relevance in our country since such centres cover a notable proportion of the country’s territory and are the custodians of a significant portion of Italy’s cultural and environmental heritage. From the end of the 1970s, Italian historical centres have been the focus of restoration activities, but mainly for the maintenance of single buildings, rather than for the centre as a whole. Recent good practices, however, show an increasing focus on valorization models based on the integration of sectoral and territorial aspects. Valorization strategies are particularly effective when they extend beyond a single municipality’s boundaries to encompass “territorial networks”, and when restoration activities are accompanied by socio-economic development and “value creation” while respecting the landscape and the environment. Integration also means s...