Terra d'Otranto, progetto conoscitivo e restauro urbano

Starting from Article 6 of the Venice Charter, the path to the understanding and preservation of historic centers has been marked by profound changes and milestones. In the former Land of Otranto, awareness of the conservation of historic cities and restoration interventions has never solidified as a concept acquired through in-depth study and general planning. The awareness of the potential and historical, architectural, and urban realities of this land, organized in a layered and complex system characterized by types of techniques, materials, craftsmanship, and forms, is still lacking. Demonstrations of this misunderstanding are evident when navigating the historic cities of this territory and manifest in interventions that are unsuitable both at the architectural and urban scales. The lack of foundational knowledge often underlies these frequently random and largely incorrect or extremely rare urban restoration actions.