Material and Immaterial Values for the Regeneration of Internal Areas: Three Contexts in Comparison

The work illustrates the research activity carried out by the University of Naples “Federico II”, the University of Catania and the Polytechnic of Turin on the subject of the internal areas’ regeneration. According to the Strategy for European Cultural Heritage in the 21st century, the research proposes a model of systemic valorisation and management based on the following key elements: the “social” component, for the empowerment of heritage communities and inclusive governance; “territorial and economic development”, reinforcing the contribution of heritage for the enhancement of local resources, for the increase of quality in tourist use and for the expansion of employment opportunities; “knowledge”, consolidating the understanding of traditions in relation to the evolution of urban settlements and the vocations of the territory. The paper illustrates an enhancement model aimed at consolidating the relationships between tangible and intangible heritage, through the reuse and shared management of buildings and public spaces. The effectiveness of the model, in terms of increasing knowledge as well as production and service development, has been verified through trials in selected areas. The case studies analysed are in the internal regions of Piedmont, Campania and eastern Sicily. .