Intangible values and touristification of public spaces in the ancient centre of Naples (Italy)

The identity of the ancient city centre of Naples has been historically founded on the co-existence of tangible and intangible values, which qualify a compact fabric defined over the centuries by the presence of several architectural and urban stratifications. The permanence of these characters and their perception in public spaces contributes to make Naples an authentic and stratified city that matches the concept of Historic Urban Landscape, twenty-eight years later being listed as a World Heritage property. By the way, the preservation of these values has to challenge with the role changes that some public spaces suffered over the time due to material, economic and social pressure with particular reference to the global phenomenon of touristification. A cyclical process determined by physical transformations of the urban configuration and new functional characterization of “overtouristic” areas is particularly affecting the public spaces located along the main tourist route within the ancient centre, such as the churchyard of Santa Chiara. The article aims to reflect about the prospects of these areas, dwelling on the role played by the touristification on the conservation of their identity as a keystone to manage historic urban preservation. These remarks may be the chance to propose a more general reflection about significant spaces such as other churchyards and gardens turned into public areas, shaping cities and citizens’ habits, where a balance between the reasons of development and the conservation of heritage and authenticity is a necessary approach to be defined. &nbsp