Towards a nature-culture relationship in historic centres. Evidence of public spaces beyond tourism in Florence (Italy)
Corinna Del Bianco
corinnadelbianco@gmail.comPolitecnico di Milano, Department of Architecture and Urban Studies (DAStU) (Italy)
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1271-0790
Abstract
Historic centres globally are facing issues they have never encountered before, such as climate change and, for some, mass tourism. Over time, the relationship between nature and culture is one of conflict, with nature seen as a threat to the conservation of tangible heritage; at the same time, tourism has upset the reality of historic centres, compromising their fruition for both residents and tourists.
In this context of great changes, the public space role of historic centres has been overturned. These public spaces, conceived as a set of elements that make up the urban scene and represent the identity of a community, have already changed significantly; on the one hand, they must respond to the needs of users who are mainly tourists and who arrive in larger numbers than originally envisaged, while on the other hand, they are experiencing the effects of climate change, with rising temperatures, heat islands, variations in the distribution and consistency of rainfall, and other site-specific issues.
Historic centres and culture can contribute to sustainable development goals, and conservation plays an important role in creating projects in synergistic relationships with the natural environment. Following an overview of the themes and current literature on tourism in historic centres and on experiences with nature-based solutions applied to conservation, this paper reports two positive instances of conservation and the regeneration of public space in the UNESCO Historic Centre of Florence, which were aimed at responding to the critical issues of the area and to enhancing its historic urban landscape.
Keywords:
nature-culture relationship, historic centres, tourism, public space, nature-based solutionsReferences
Armanni, O. (2019). Verso un sistema integrato per le piazze minori. In A. Capestro (Ed.), Piazze minori nel centro storico di Firenze (pp. 113–121). Didapress.
Google Scholar
Arrighi, C., Brugioni, M., Castelli, F., Franceschini, S., & Mazzanti, B. (2018). Flood risk assessment in art cities: The exemplary case of Florence (Italy). Journal of Flood Risk Management, 11(S2), S616–S631. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfr3.12226
Google Scholar
Arrighi, C., Carraresi, A., & Castelli, F. (2022). Resilience of art cities to flood risk: A quantitative model based on depth-idleness correlation. Flood Risk Management,15, e12794. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfr3.12794
Google Scholar
Bargellini, P. (2017). Stampa della Conferenza del Prof. Piero Bargellini in occasione della consacrazione della Chiesa del Carmine a Basilica minore (16 luglio 1954) [Print of the Conference of Prof. Piero Bargellini on the occasion of the consecration of the Church of Carmine in Basilica Minor (July 16, 1954)]. In A. Di Cintio (Ed.), Un progetto per Piazza del Carmine [A project for Piazza del Carmine] (pp. 218–227). Tipografia del Comune.
Google Scholar
Bini, M., Capitanio, C., & Aiello, L. (2016). Immagine urbana: Temi e progetti per lo spazio pubblico nel centro storico di Firenze [Urban image: Themes and projects for public space in the historic centre of Florence]. DidaPress.
Google Scholar
Boros, J., & Mahmoud, I. (2021). Urban Design and the Role of Placemaking in Mainstreaming Nature-Based Solutions. Learning From the Biblioteca Degli Alberi Case Study in Milan. Frontiers in Sustainable Cities, 3, 635610. https://doi.org/10.3389/frsc.2021.635610
Google Scholar
Bottalico, F., Chirici, G., Giannetti, F., De Marco, A., Nocentini, S., Paoletti, E., Salbitano, F., Sanesi, G., Serenelli, C., & Travaglini, D. (2016). Air Pollution Removal by Green Infrastructures and Urban Forests in the City of Florence. Agriculture and Agricultural Science Procedia, 8, 243–251. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aaspro.2016.02.099
Google Scholar
Capitanio, C. (2017). Le prospettive del rione di San Frediano. Identità e trasformazione nello spazio pubblico [The prospects of the Rione di San Frediano. Identity and transformation into public space]. In A. Di Cintio (Ed.), Un progetto per Piazza del Carmine [A project for Piazza del Carmine] (pp. 174–179). Tipografia del Comune.
Google Scholar
Celata, F. (2020). Come cambieranno le città degli affetti brevi e di Airbnb dopo la pandemia [How the cities of transient affections and Airbnb will change after the pandemic]. Che fare? https://www.che-fare.com/almanacco/societa/lavoro/celata-citta-affitti-piattaforme-pandemia/
Google Scholar
Celata, F., & Romano, A. (2020). Overtourism and online short-term rental platforms in Italian cities. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 30(5), 1020–1039. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2020.1788568
Google Scholar
Centre for Tourism Studies, ETOA, & Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation. (2016). Il turismo a Firenze: Il punto di vista dei resident [Tourism in Florence: The residents’ point of view]. https://centrostudituristicifirenze.it/blog/turismo-a-firenze-fiorentini-chiedono-turismo-qualita/
Google Scholar
Cilona, T., & Del Bianco, C. (2021). Favara: Cultura e qualità dell’abitare auto-costruito [Favara: Culture and quality of self-built living]. Quaderni Abitare la Terra/Dwelling on Earth, 6, 34–41.
Google Scholar
Coombes, M. A., & Viles, H. A. (2021). Integrating nature-based solutions and the conservation of urban built heritage: Challenges, opportunities, and prospects. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 63, 127192. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2021.127192
Google Scholar
Del Bianco, C. (2017). Teaching heritage preservation and revitalization of historical cities on the faculties and schools of architecture in 19 European and extra European countries. In B. Szmygin (Ed.), Best practices handbook: Contemporary realities and needs of sustainable urban rehabilitation (pp. 187-199). Lublin University of Technology.
Google Scholar
Del Bianco, C. (2020). Pemba: Spontaneous living spaces. Routledge.
Google Scholar
Del Bianco, C. (2021). Jardim Filhos da Terra. Spontaneous Living Spaces in Sao Paulo. LetteraVentidue.
Google Scholar
Del Bianco, P. (2015). Heritage for intercultural dialogue: The philosophy, the Life Beyond Tourism® (LBT) model and certified travel. In M. Di Stefano (Ed.), 18th ICOMOS General Assembly and Symposium, Florence, Italy 9–14 November 2014 Heritage and Landscape as Human Values – Conference Proceedings (pp. 101–105). Edizioni Scientifiche Italiane.
Google Scholar
Del Bianco, P. (2020) La natura non ha confine, Nature knows no boundaries. In C. Del Bianco, A. Savelli, & S. Giometti (Eds.), Proceedings of the scientific symposium Building Peace through Heritage – World Forum to Change through Dialogue. Florence, 13–15 March 2020 (pp. 21-28). Life Beyond Tourism Edizioni.
Google Scholar
D’Eramo, M. (2022). Il selfie del mondo. Indagine sull’età del turismo da Mark Twain al Covid-19. Feltrinelli.
Google Scholar
Di Cintio, A. (2017). Un progetto per Piazza del Carmine [A project for Piazza del Carmine]. Tipografia del Comune.
Google Scholar
Dodds, R., & Butler, R. (2019). The phenomena of overtourism: A review. International Journal of Tourism Cities, 5(4), 519–528. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJTC-06-2019-0090
Google Scholar
Fanelli, G. (1997). Firenze. Le città nella storia d’Italia (Laterza).
Google Scholar
Francini, C. (2019). Verso un progetto delle Piazze minori del centro storico di Firenze [Towards a project for the minor squares in the historic centre of Florence]. In A. Capestro (Ed.), Piazze minori nel centro storico di Firenze – atti del convegno internazionale [Minor squares in the historic centre of Florence – proceedings of the international conference] (pp. 289-296). Ricerche. https://issuu.com/dida-unifi/docs/piazze_minori_nel_centro_storico_di_firenze___anto
Google Scholar
Francini, C. (2022). Il piano di gestione del centro storico di Firenze, Patrimonio Mondiale UNESCO [The management plan for the historic centre of Florence, UNESCO World Heritage Site]. Firenze Patrimonio Mondiale.
Google Scholar
Gössling S., McCabe, S., & Chen, N. (2020). A socio-psychological conceptualisation of overtourism. Annals of Tourism Research, 84, 102976. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2020.102976
Google Scholar
Gurrieri, F., Caciagli, S., & Cantini, C. (2014). Le piazze di Firenze: Storia, architettura e impianto urbano [The squares of Florence: History, architecture and the urban system]. Pagliai.
Google Scholar
Hodges, S. (2020). Heritage tourism in the time of COVID-19: Imagining a new future for our pasts. In C. Del Bianco, A. Savelli, & S. Giometti (Eds.), Proceedings of the scientific symposium Building Peace through Heritage – World Forum to Change through Dialogue. Florence, 13–15 March 2020 (pp. 49-58). Life Beyond Tourism Edizioni.
Google Scholar
ICOMOS. (2022). International cultural heritage tourism charter. https://www.icomos.org/images/DOCUMENTS/Secretariat/2023/CSI/eng-ita_ICHTCharter.pdf
Google Scholar
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. (2023). AR6 synthesis report – climate change 2023. https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/syr/
Google Scholar
Laureano, P. (2011). Traditional Knowledge in Coping with Desertification. In H. G. Brauch, Ú. Oswald Spring, C. Mesjasz, J. Grin, P. Kameri-Mbote, B. Chourou, P. Dunay, & J. Birkmann (Eds.), Coping with Global Environmental Change, Disasters and Security: Threats, Challenges, Vulnerabilities and Risks (pp. 893–900). Springer Berlin Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-17776-7_52
Google Scholar
Laurìa, A., & Vessella, Luigi. (2021). Small Forgotten Places in the Hearth of Cities. On the residuality of public spaces in historical contexts: Florence as a case study (Didapress).
Google Scholar
Lejano, R. P., & Del Bianco, C. (2018). The logic of informality: Pattern and process in a São Paulo favela. Geoforum, 91, 195–205. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2018.03.005
Google Scholar
Liberatore, G., Biagioni, P., Ciappei, C., & Francini, C. (2022). Dealing with uncertainty, from overtourism to overcapacity: A decision support model for art cities: The case of UNESCO WHCC of Florence. Current Issues in Tourism. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2022.2046712
Google Scholar
MacCannell, D. (2005). Il turista: Una nuova teoria della classe agiata. UTET.
Google Scholar
Liberatore, G., Biagioni, P., & Talia, V. (n.d.). Studio sulla capacità di carico del Centro Storico del Comune di Firenze.
Google Scholar
Metropolitan City of Florence. (2023). Dati turistat [Tourism statistics]. https://www.cittametropolitana.fi.it/turismo-2/turismo/statistica-del-turismo/
Google Scholar
Municipality of Florence. (2023a). Open data. http://opendata.comune.fi.it
Google Scholar
Municipality of Florence. (2023b). Piano strutturale 2010 [Structural plan 2010]. https://pianostrutturale.comune.fi.it
Google Scholar
Nava, S., Becherini, F., Bernardi, A., Bonazza, A., Chiari, M., García-Orellana, I., Lucarelli, F., Ludwig, N., Migliori, A., Sabbioni, C., Udisti, R., Valli, G., & Vecchi, R. (2010). An integrated approach to assess air pollution threats to cultural heritage in a semi-confined environment: The case study of Michelozzo’s Courtyard in Florence (Italy). Science of The Total Environment, 408(6), 1403–1413. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2009.07.030
Google Scholar
One Planet. (2021). Sustainable tourism programme. https://www.oneplanetnetwork.org/programmes/sustainable-tourism
Google Scholar
Rodwell, D. (2018). The historic urban landscape and the geography of urban heritage. The Historic Environment: Policy & Practice, 9(3–4), 180–206. https://doi.org/10.1080/17567505.2018.1517140
Google Scholar
Rodwell, D., & Turner, M. (2018). Impact assessments for urban world heritage: European experiences under scrutiny. Built Heritage, 2, 58–71. https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03545684
Google Scholar
Taylor, K. (2016). The historic urban landscape paradigm and cities as cultural landscapes: Challenging orthodoxy in urban conservation. Landscape Research, 41(4), 471–480. https://doi.org/10.1080/01426397.2016.1156066
Google Scholar
Turner, M. (2017). Culture as an enabler for sustainable development: Challenges for the World Heritage Convention in adopting the UN sustainable development goals. In M. Albert, F. Bandarin, & A. Pereira Roders (Eds.), Going beyond: Heritage studies (pp. 19-31). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57165-2_2
Google Scholar
Turner, M. (2018). Repositioning urban heritage—setting the scene. Built Heritage, 2, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03545679
Google Scholar
UNESCO. (2001). Declaration on cultural diversity. https://www.unesco.org/en/legal-affairs/unesco-universal-declaration-cultural-diversity
Google Scholar
UNESCO. (2011). Recommendation on the historic urban landscape. https://www.unesco.org/en/legal-affairs/recommendation-historic-urban-landscape-including-glossary-definitions
Google Scholar
UNESCO. (2013). New life for historic cities, the historic urban landscape approach explained. Author.
Google Scholar
United Nations World Tourism Organization. (2023). World tourism barometer volume 21, issue 1, January 2023. Author. https://webunwto.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/2023-01/UNWTO_Barom23_01_January_EXCERPT.pdf
Google Scholar
van Oers, R., & Pereira Roders, A. (2012). Historic cities as model of sustainability. Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development, 2(1), 4–14. https://doi.org/10.1108/20441261211223298
Google Scholar
Vitali, S. (2017). La genesi del progetto [The genesis of the project]. In A. Di Cintio (Ed.), Un progetto per Piazza del Carmine [A project for Piazza del Carmine] (pp. 210-215). Tipografia del Comune.
Google Scholar
Xing, Y., Jones, P., & Donnison, I. (2017). Characterisation of Nature-Based Solutions for the Built Environment. Sustainability, 9(1), 149. https://doi.org/10.3390/su9010149
Google Scholar
Zaffi, L. (2019). Il progetto delle piazze minori: Indirizzi progettuali, azioni e strumenti. In A. Capestro (Ed.), Piazze minori nel centro storico di Firenze (pp. 271–285). Didapress.
Google Scholar
Zoppi, M. (2019). Trasformazioni e sfide. In A. Capestro (Ed.), Piazze minori nel centro storico di Firenze (pp. 137–147). Didapress.
Google Scholar
Authors
Corinna Del Biancocorinnadelbianco@gmail.com
Politecnico di Milano, Department of Architecture and Urban Studies (DAStU) Italy
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1271-0790
Statistics
Abstract views: 32PDF downloads: 29
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
