Publications
The Agency of Socially Mixed Neighbourhoods Insights from the Historic Centre of Naples
Socially mixed neighbourhoods, shaped by diverse housing situations and economic activities, play a crucial role in defining the identity of urban spaces, particularly in historic centres like Naples. This study highlights the 'agency of place'—how spatial relationships and social heterogeneity influence neighbourhood dynamics—and underscores its importance for inclusive urban policies. Through an analysis of the Condominio Sociale di via S. Nicola a Nilo, a city council initiative aimed at fostering social inclusion, the research demonstrates that the coexistence of various social groups, networks, and spatial configurations is fundamental to the concept of neighbourhood in Naples. Unlike formal administrative definitions, these informal yet dynamic interactions reveal how social difference actively shapes urban life, offering insights for more equitable urban planning.
Managing Cultural Tourism
A key insight from this study is that the preservation of authenticity in niche tourism, particularly within UNESCO World Heritage Sites like Naples' historic center, hinges on community involvement and strategic digital integration. While business models vary among stakeholders, similarities emerge in staffing and funding structures, underscoring the critical role of local communities in maintaining cultural integrity. The research employs a managerial approach to analyze these dynamics, revealing how digital tools can support niche tourism when applied thoughtfully. This work contributes to the limited but growing body of literature on managing dark and grave tourism, offering practical insights for sustainable cultural enhancement.
Abandoned places, complexes and parts of cities. Regeneration and enhancement of monumental hospitals in the historic centre of Naples
Monumental hospitals within UNESCO World Heritage Sites, such as those in Naples's historic center, face abandonment due to functional obsolescence and failure to meet modern standards. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the vulnerabilities of healthcare systems, exacerbating the need for regeneration. This study proposes light retrofit interventions for three Neapolitan hospitals—'Gesù e Maria', 'San Gennaro dei Poveri', and 'Santa Maria del Popolo degli Incurabili'—to restore their historical healthcare functions while integrating energy efficiency and seismic improvements. The approach aims to strengthen community healthcare, enhance cultural heritage, and improve citizens' quality of life. By leveraging the flexibility of these monumental structures, the research offers a sustainable model for repurposing abandoned urban spaces.
Circular Economy and adaptive reuse of historical buildings: an analysis of the dynamics between real estate and accommodation facilities in the city of Naples (Italy)
A significant correlation exists between the rise of Bed and Breakfasts (B&Bs) and the adaptive reuse of historical buildings in Naples' historic center, as demonstrated by spatial analysis using Geographic Information System (GIS). This study reveals that B&Bs, often emerging from repurposed heritage structures, are closely tied to real estate market dynamics. The research employed GIS to map residential building values, uncovering a pattern where new accommodation facilities—frequently located in historic buildings undergoing adaptive reuse—align with shifts in property markets. This finding underscores the potential of circular economy strategies in urban regeneration, offering a sustainable approach to revitalizing underused or abandoned heritage areas while addressing contemporary urban needs.
The Neapolitan way to the commons: poetics of irony and ‘creative use of the law’ in the case ofL’Asilo
Neapolitan social movements for the commons have successfully challenged clientelistic and corrupt public resource management, offering a scalable model of civic engagement. Through ethnographic research, this study highlights the cultural and political underpinnings of commoning practices in Naples, focusing on L'Asilo—a pioneering community that secured legal recognition for the 'civic use' of an occupied historic building. The approach combines irony and strategic legal maneuvering ('creative use of the law') to subvert traditional power structures while fostering alternative governance models. This case demonstrates how local activism can redefine public space, policy, and democratic participation, with implications extending beyond Naples.
Sustainable Development of the Historic Centre of Naples: The Impact of Vehicular Traffic and Food Service Business on Air Quality
A four-week monitoring campaign in Naples' historic center revealed that vehicular traffic significantly elevates fine particle (FP) concentrations, with levels on streets allowing average traffic being twice those observed in comparable European cities. Pedestrian-only streets exhibited FP levels similar to other urban areas, while spatial analysis indicated minimal contribution from food service businesses to overall pollution, though emissions were not measured at rooftop level. The study also found a correlation between street aspect ratio (H/W) and FP concentration, suggesting that street geometry plays a critical role in air quality dynamics. These preliminary findings underscore the need for long-term monitoring to inform sustainable development strategies for this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Damage scenario-based approach and retrofitting strategies for seismic risk mitigation: an application to the historical Centre of Sant’Antimo (Italy)
A damage scenario-based approach reveals significant seismic vulnerability in the historic center of Sant'Antimo, Italy, with retrofitting strategies offering substantial mitigation potential. The study applies an index-based seismic vulnerability assessment integrated with GIS tools to identify structurally vulnerable building units and generate typological vulnerability curves using the EMS-98 scale. Parametric analysis of varying earthquake magnitudes and distances provides detailed urban damage and loss estimates, including collapsed buildings, human casualties, severe injuries, and homelessness. These findings underscore the critical need for targeted retrofitting interventions to reduce seismic risk in historic masonry structures within UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Environmental project and public space rehabilitation: the great project for the historic center of Naples Unesco World Heritage Site
A comprehensive approach to rehabilitating the Historic Centre of Naples has yielded practical guidelines for sustainable urban interventions. The project focuses on enhancing public spaces, roads, walkways, and squares while addressing complex urban challenges in large cities with EU funding. By adopting a multidisciplinary strategy, it provides actionable insights into strategic planning and process management for similar heritage conservation efforts. These guidelines aim to balance preservation with modern functionality, offering a model for sustainable urban development in historic contexts.
Local materials in the regeneration of urban space of the historic centre of the Metropolitan City of Naples
A key insight from this study is that the use of local materials significantly enhances the quality and perception of urban space, reinforcing a sense of belonging to place. This finding underscores the importance of sustainable exploitation of local resources for the regeneration of urban areas, particularly in the context of UNESCO World Heritage Sites like the Historic Centre of Naples. The research, conducted by the Urban Planning Board and Land Management Laboratory as part of a larger project on the enhancement of Naples' historic centre, explores how 92 municipalities within the Metropolitan City can preserve their distinct cultural profiles while addressing shared administrative challenges. It employs a multidisciplinary approach, integrating urban planning, architecture, and environmental sustainability to propose strategies for regenerating urban space that respect local identities and resources.
Narrations et appropriations dans le centre historique de Naples : des constructions identitaires situées
Research reveals that the historic center of Naples, particularly the Quartieri Spagnoli, is not monolithically subaltern but instead exhibits multiple situated identities and socio-spatial dynamics. This challenges the dominant narrative that portrays urban underclass practices as symbols of decay. By analyzing the practices, representations, and narrations of locally termed 'plebe' inhabitants alongside two specific urban situations, the study contrasts the discourse of dominant groups with grassroots urban production. The findings underscore a fragmented and composite identity construction within the historic center, offering a nuanced perspective on subaltern conditions in urban spaces.
The Influence of Geo-Hazard Effects on the Physical Vulnerability Assessment of the Built Heritage: An Application in a District of Naples
A district in Naples' historic center, particularly vulnerable to seismic activity, exhibits significant structural weaknesses that exacerbate damage from earthquakes. The study identifies masonry and reinforced concrete buildings as the most susceptible typologies, with a GIS-integrated methodology revealing critical structural units prone to severe damage. Parametric analysis using seismic attenuation laws further highlights potential urban losses, while local site and topographical conditions are shown to intensify seismic impact. These findings underscore the need for targeted seismic risk mitigation strategies in high-vulnerability areas.
An irreconcilable first-place: the precarious life of tourism and heritage in a southern European historic centre
Naples' historic center embodies a precarious duality, where heritage tourism intersects with local life, evoking both anxiety and liberation. Unlike conventional narratives of gentrification or museumification, this study reveals that the area's allure lies in its affective experience—mixing excitement and foreboding—rather than monumental grandeur. Through three case studies—a bus tour, online reactions to a New York Times article, and local perceptions of a pedestrianized piazza—the research demonstrates how tourism here is shaped by contradictory emotions, challenging assumptions about the inevitable transformation of historic centers under visitor economies.
Cultural Heritage and Collaborative Urban Regeneration: The Sansevero Chapel Museum for the Historic Centre of Naples
The Sansevero Chapel Museum in Naples demonstrates that cultural heritage can drive effective urban regeneration without the pitfalls of museification or gentrification. Since the 1990s, the museum has actively engaged with stakeholders and local communities, notably supporting the 'Corpo di Napoli' initiative, to revitalize its historic surroundings while preserving its identity. This collaborative approach contrasts with traditional models that often lead to displacement or loss of cultural authenticity. The study highlights a successful model for balancing heritage preservation with urban development, offering insights applicable to other degraded historic centers.
ICT Solutions for the OR.C.HE.S.T.R.A. Project: From Personalized Selection to Enhanced Fruition of Cultural Heritage Data
A novel ICT framework, developed under the OR.C.HE.S.T.R.A. Project, enhances cultural heritage engagement for tourists and residents in Naples by leveraging personalized data-driven recommendations and real-time accessibility solutions. This approach integrates smart tourism with social innovation, creating an ecosystem that involves stakeholders from companies to researchers. The system improves both the fruition of cultural knowledge—tailoring experiences based on user preferences—and its preservation through interactive and enjoyable learning pathways. By addressing challenges in heritage conservation and visitor experience simultaneously, this project demonstrates a scalable model for integrating technology into cultural heritage management.
Soundscape variation in a historical city centre due to new traffic regulation
A new traffic regulation in Naples' historic center, the largest restricted traffic area (ZTL) in Europe, significantly altered the city's soundscape. This study found that while the ZTL aimed to improve sustainable mobility and quality of life, it also impacted auditory perception—an aspect often overlooked in urban renewal processes focused on tangible heritage. Through soundwalks conducted before and after implementing the ZTL, researchers analyzed variations in acoustical and environmental parameters, revealing how traffic restrictions can shape the intangible cultural soundscape of a World Heritage Site. These findings underscore the need to integrate auditory preservation into Management Plans for historic city centers, ensuring that interventions maintain both visual and sonic authenticity.
Tuff City
A pioneering study reveals the complex, often contentious process of urban regeneration in Naples' historic center, challenging conventional narratives and methodological approaches. By focusing on two piazzas and a centro sociale, the research exposes tensions between heritage preservation, security, pedestrianization, tourism, immigration, and contemporary protest movements. The monograph offers a critical lens on public space, citizenship, and urban transformation, providing new insights into how cities like Naples navigate cultural reimagining while addressing social and political challenges.
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