Earthquakes and small historical centres in todays Italy: perspectives for the reconstruction of the tomorrow

Earthquakes are a constant in the history of Italy’s territory, especially in Inner Areas and small historical centres. The frequency with which disastrous earthquakes have occurred in recent years, affecting already fragile territories, is helping to change physical and social geographies. The disaster is converting in an ordinary condition in our territories, making the emergency and post-emergency scenarios the starting point for many interventions. What possibilities remain for the Inner Areas and small historical centres affected by an earthquake? What “tomorrow” they legitimately aspire while facing the reconstruction? The concept of reconstruction in an urban context, especially if historical, cannot remain exclusively relegated to the physical level: the “historical centre” is part of a network of relationships, uses and identities, already existing at the time of the disastrous event, to which new dynamics triggered by the phase of emergency and reconstruction are added. The debate on the modes of reconstruction must be accompanied by a comprehensive debate on the existing context, made up of physical, social and environmental components. Therefore, in order to guarantee the survival of the historic city, it is not only important where and how to reconstruct, but also when and who. When the reconstruction begins and how long it lasts, and who is entrusted with the role of decision-making and who is entrusted with management, implementation and control of the process. This essay illustrates an overview on physical problems and socio-economic trends affecting Inner Areas and small historical centres in Italy. Then, it analyses the reconstructive policies adopted during the last fifty years in the most recent disastrous events. Finally, this study produced a set of criteria for the definition of territorial reconstructive strategies, based on the pre-existing state, understood in a broader physical, morphological, social and economic sense