ISSUES OF HISTORIC TOWN SURVEYING: VISUALIZING URBAN VALUES

Aim of the paper is a reflection on the concept of Historical Town and on the issues in its surveying. The background is analyzed to state the more significant topics and to trace an operational line of study. The point of view is the historical-critical methodology for architectural analysis. The urban heritage is seen as a work of art made by the sylloge of architectures and urban spaces, defined by the modification and stratifications processes occurred during centuries. In particular the values of the urban heritage roots on a “relational ” system; it can be studied with historical synchronic and diachronic interpretations and values ’ judgments, useful to make evident the current characteristics, i.e. what we have to preserve