Revitalising Sicilian Heritage:
Reimagining the Borgo in Present Times
During the 20th century Sicily experienced significant emigration after the island suffered catastrophic earthquakes. A backdrop of lawlessness perpetuated by mafia control and the absence of a comprehensive conservation policy affected the resilience of rural populations. However, during the rise of fascism in the 1930s, a strategic initiative emerged to assert dominance over the island’s rural expanse. Propelled by a Rural City plan, over fifty borgos were built across Sicily to reshape rural society along fascist lines.
The thesis discusses a range of approaches to heritage including adaptive reuse and conservation, aiming to sensitively reimagine Sicily’s borgos for future generations. Harnessing heritage to de-seasonalise Sicily could foster socio-economic cohesion to aid the island’s urban rural divide and drive local economies. Sicily’s could be reframed beyond the populist aestheticization of Mediterranean life and instead use heritage to democratically return Sicily’s ruins to functional use.
The thesis can be read here.
