The Sanità district in Naples: community involvement in developing its heritage value

Abstract

Naples is one of the most ancient cities in Europe, located in the centre of the ancient Mediterranean region, and as such has a very rich cultural heritage. Nowadays, the current urban fabric preserves a selection of outstanding elements of its long and eventful history, but we set out to focus attention on this littleknown inner-city community, the Sanità District. Despite the district's rich cultural history and heritage, it is still a marginal touristic player. This workingclass district has been neglected for a long period of time. Since the 1990s, Naples has been experiencing a renaissance. The trend for reviving heritage would be selected through a locally relevant participation process that is appropriate to the context. Many associations are already working to foster an active and competitive heritage process. Local stakeholders must be associated with the mobilization of the inhabitants as with the associative dynamics that have been enacted since the 1980s. This concept is associated with the heritagization process: a Canadian concept from the 2008 Icomos Symposium. This integrates the attitudes that need to be adopted and the approaches and methods that need to be developed to ensure that the spirit of place can be transmitted; that is to say, the process that leads to the recognition of the historic value of certain objects and practices and of the imperative need to ensure they are protected. Our research method therefore is aimed at identifying how the effects of these are being felt by actors, public and private, and local inhabitants and tries to explore their needs, aspirations, fears and concerns by means of direct interviews and surveys. The results of these are focused on local networks and on stakes, objectives and modalities, the levels of success in achieving heritagization outcomes and an assessment of their social impact.

Creating social value through entrepreneurship: the social business model of La Paranza

“…It is particularly located at the bottom of Capodimonte hill, in the valley that extends till Foria Street. The sociodemographic and urban characteristics of the area bound it as a periphery of the city, although Rione Sanità represents a particular place in the history of the city, popularized in the collective imagination and incorporated within traditional Naples, whose rich heritage testifies to the length of human occupation (Salomone, 2016). Just as Naples may be seen as a city of huge contradictions, Sanità may be seen as the clearest example of the way great sociocultural inequality and vast heritage coexist side by side.…”

Le street art à Naples

“…31 Dans l'aire Vergini-Sanità, la dynamique autour du street art accompagne un mouvement de patrimonialisation porté par des acteurs locaux (Salomone, 2016 34 La valorisation du patrimoine, les activités culturelles et la création artistique sont ainsi mises en avant à l'échelle du quartier et doivent servir la rénovation urbaine. Ne peut-on pas y voir les signes d'un modèle urbain alternatif où l'ensemble des démarches, des projets cherchent à organiser un développement urbain en se plaçant dans une perspective bottom up (Douay et Prévot, 2016) ?…”

“…La dimension esthétique liée au réaménagement des places a aussi des effets limités. En définitive, cette valorisation du street art accompagne un processus de requalification du patrimoine et de valorisation touristique de l'ensemble de l'aire portée par les acteurs du territoire (Salomone, 2016). Elle est désormais encouragée par les actions de la municipalité.…”

“…Le quartier présente des dynamiques touristiques fortes : multiplication des B&B et des appartements en location à destination des touristes, hausse de la fréquentation dans les divers sites, image revalorisée dans les guides touristiques et magazines culturels (Salomone, 2016). Ces dynamiques sont porteuses d'un processus de gentrification dans un quartier proche du centre antique et en pleine effervescence culturelle.…”