Publications
Urban poverty and informality in Southern Europe: a view from Naples
Naples' urban poverty, characterized by high informality and close social proximity, reveals a distinct southern European model of social regulation. Unlike anomalies of modernity, the city's 'porous' structures both empower disadvantaged groups and entrench inequalities, reflecting broader regional dynamics. The study examines how global forces like migration and tourism reshape Naples' historic center, offering insights into the interplay between local poverty and urban transformation in Southern Europe.
Cultural Heritage as a Relational Device: Comparing Institutional and Collaborative Models
Collaborative governance models in cultural heritage management can act as catalysts for social innovation, fostering inclusive forms of cultural citizenship and urban resilience. A comparative analysis of four Italian sites—including the Historic Centre of Naples—reveals that traditional institutional frameworks often lead to social exclusion and touristification, whereas participatory approaches promote mutualistic economies and shared responsibility. This study underscores the potential of co-managed heritage to transcend the protection-participation dichotomy, integrating conservation with social inclusion and cultural creativity. The research draws on documentary sources, institutional reports, and scientific literature to highlight adaptive, context-sensitive governance as a driver for sustainable urban regeneration.
Greening Heritage: Sustainable Interventions in the Historic Center of Naples
Sustainable green interventions can enhance environmental resilience and community well-being in densely built historic centers without compromising cultural heritage. A study on the UNESCO-listed Historic Centre of Naples demonstrates that temporary landscape designs improve social life while preserving architectural integrity, offering a replicable model for other urban areas facing similar challenges. The research employed a multi-methodological approach to assess spatial and environmental features, identifying short-term actions that balance sustainability with historical preservation.
Il Writing in (Pseudo)Francese nel Centro Storico di Napoli
A notable density of (pseudo-)French graffiti tags, primarily found in Naples' historic center and Piazza Garibaldi, suggests the influence of youth, artistic, and translocal circuits rather than resident francophone communities. These tags, characterized by their hybrid or creative orthography, contribute to the urban linguistic landscape by embedding French elements visually, enriching the city's multilingualism, and fostering translocal circulation of graphic and linguistic repertoires. The study analyzed a non-systematic corpus from 2018–2025, integrating linguistic, grapho-stylistic, and spatial analyses to explore how these tags function as semiotic-material practices, offering new symbolic valences to urban spaces.
Rebel Walls
Graffiti writing in Naples serves as a powerful visual form of protest, addressing pressing social issues such as the right to housing amid gentrification pressures. The study reveals how this practice transforms urban walls into spaces of resistance and sociocultural affirmation, creating a bottom-up urban discourse that challenges traditional narratives. By analyzing graffiti's role in expressing identity and critiquing transformational pressures, the research demonstrates its potential as an alternative tool for communication and struggle. The findings highlight graffiti's significance in preserving Naples' cultural identity while making visible conflicts often ignored by regulatory frameworks.
Reducing UHI in historical centres: the greening transformation of open small spaces in San Lorenzo district in the city of Naples (Italy)
Targeted greening interventions in small, open spaces within historical city centers can significantly mitigate Urban Heat Island (UHI) effects and improve thermal comfort. A study focusing on the San Lorenzo district of Naples demonstrates that restoring inner courtyards—originally designed as gardens or orange groves—to their green function enhances cooling potential in dense, heritage-constrained urban fabrics. Using ENVI-met 5.7 simulations, researchers modeled microclimatic conditions under current and greened scenarios, incorporating detailed urban morphology, vegetation types, and local climate data. The findings highlight the physiological benefits of such interventions, as measured by indices like Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET) and Mean Radiant Temperature (MRT), offering a sustainable approach to urban planning that addresses thermal discomfort and energy consumption in Mediterranean historical centers.
Cultural Heritage and Aerification in UNESCO Art Cities
Short-term rentals (STR), exemplified by Airbnb accommodations, are unevenly transforming UNESCO World Heritage Sites like Naples' historic centre, disrupting social balances and housing markets. While often framed as a 'sharing economy,' the study reveals that costs and benefits of this phenomenon, termed 'aerification,' are spatially unequal, threatening fragile urban dynamics. The research analyzes Airbnb's suburban distribution and its impact on long-term rentals and neighbourhoods, highlighting risks to cities characterized by inner peripheries.
The Agency of Socially Mixed Neighbourhoods Insights from the Historic Centre of Naples
Socially mixed neighbourhoods, shaped by diverse housing situations and economic activities, play a crucial role in defining the identity of urban spaces, particularly in historic centres like Naples. This study highlights the 'agency of place'—how spatial relationships and social heterogeneity influence neighbourhood dynamics—and underscores its importance for inclusive urban policies. Through an analysis of the Condominio Sociale di via S. Nicola a Nilo, a city council initiative aimed at fostering social inclusion, the research demonstrates that the coexistence of various social groups, networks, and spatial configurations is fundamental to the concept of neighbourhood in Naples. Unlike formal administrative definitions, these informal yet dynamic interactions reveal how social difference actively shapes urban life, offering insights for more equitable urban planning.
Development of point sampling technology for identifying high-emitting vehicles in narrow and deep street canyons
Point sampling technology (PS) demonstrates potential for identifying high-emitting vehicles in the historic center of Naples, offering a viable solution for air quality monitoring in narrow and deep street canyons where traditional methods are impractical. The study, conducted on two adjacent streets with similar geometries but differing traffic levels, used condensation particle number counters (CPCs) to measure fine particle (FP) concentrations and video recordings to classify vehicles. Sensitivity analysis revealed that while PS effectively captures exhaust emissions from passing vehicles, challenges persist in high-traffic scenarios. Despite these limitations, the technology provides valuable data for developing targeted air quality management policies in historical urban centers.
Intangible values and touristification of public spaces in the ancient centre of Naples (Italy)
Touristification is significantly altering the balance between tangible and intangible heritage values in Naples' historic center, threatening its authenticity as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The study highlights how public spaces, such as the churchyard of Santa Chiara, are being transformed by economic pressures and over-tourism, leading to functional changes that challenge traditional urban preservation. It emphasizes the need for careful management to preserve the city's layered identity while addressing the impacts of development. The research reflects on broader implications for heritage conservation in similar spaces, advocating for a balanced approach between modernization and the retention of cultural authenticity.
Managing Cultural Tourism
A key insight from this study is that the preservation of authenticity in niche tourism, particularly within UNESCO World Heritage Sites like Naples' historic center, hinges on community involvement and strategic digital integration. While business models vary among stakeholders, similarities emerge in staffing and funding structures, underscoring the critical role of local communities in maintaining cultural integrity. The research employs a managerial approach to analyze these dynamics, revealing how digital tools can support niche tourism when applied thoughtfully. This work contributes to the limited but growing body of literature on managing dark and grave tourism, offering practical insights for sustainable cultural enhancement.
The Role of Tourism in the Regeneration of Peripheral Neighbourhoods: A Comparison between Alcântara (Lisbon) and Bagnoli (Naples)
Tourism-driven urban regeneration in peripheral neighborhoods often leads to polarization, where central areas thrive while peripheral ones lag. A comparative study of Alcântara (Lisbon) and Bagnoli (Naples) reveals that successful regeneration—such as Alcântara's systematic planning and tourist development—can mitigate this imbalance. Conversely, Bagnoli faces stagnation due to a lack of cohesive regional planning, hindering its potential for sustainable growth. The research employs bibliographic analysis, documentary reviews, and extensive fieldwork to census and compare tourist facilities in both areas. Findings underscore the critical role of integrated urban strategies in leveraging tourism for equitable development, offering insights for other UNESCO World Heritage Sites grappling with similar challenges.
Abandoned places, complexes and parts of cities. Regeneration and enhancement of monumental hospitals in the historic centre of Naples
Monumental hospitals within UNESCO World Heritage Sites, such as those in Naples's historic center, face abandonment due to functional obsolescence and failure to meet modern standards. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the vulnerabilities of healthcare systems, exacerbating the need for regeneration. This study proposes light retrofit interventions for three Neapolitan hospitals—'Gesù e Maria', 'San Gennaro dei Poveri', and 'Santa Maria del Popolo degli Incurabili'—to restore their historical healthcare functions while integrating energy efficiency and seismic improvements. The approach aims to strengthen community healthcare, enhance cultural heritage, and improve citizens' quality of life. By leveraging the flexibility of these monumental structures, the research offers a sustainable model for repurposing abandoned urban spaces.
Active mobility in historical centres: towards an accessible and competitive city
Enhancing walkability through active mobility measures can significantly improve the accessibility, attractiveness, and social inclusion of historic city centers. A study on the Historic Centre of Naples demonstrates that redeveloping pedestrian paths increases connectivity among houses, services, public facilities, and green spaces, thereby revitalizing built heritage and promoting sustainable urban development. The research identifies and classifies active mobility measures in a matrix, analyzing their impact on physical, economic, social, and functional aspects of historic districts. Applying this framework to the Pizzofalcone area—despite its marginalization—reveals potential for competitive spill-over effects, bridging gaps between historical value and urban functionality.
Constantly evoked but under-researched: the conundrum of vertical stratification in Naples
Naples' historic center, renowned for its dense and high-rise residential pattern, has long been characterized by vertical stratification—where different social groups coexist within the same buildings. This study reveals how post-war perceptions of this phenomenon as a sign of backwardness have evolved over the past four decades due to international migration, urban regeneration, and tourism. A notable finding is the recent transformation of previously undesirable dwellings into attractive short-term rental investments, which threatens to accelerate the displacement of vulnerable local residents. The research combines historical analysis with contemporary urban studies to highlight the complex socio-spatial dynamics shaping Naples' residential landscape.
Regenerative Approach for Solid Waste Management in Historic Centres
Historic centres, such as those in Naples and Cairo, face significant challenges in solid waste management due to their unique urban fabric and fluctuating user populations. Poor waste management can lead to the deterioration of these culturally rich areas, threatening their Genius Loci—a term describing the unique spirit or essence of a place. This study proposes a regenerative framework that integrates urban regeneration strategies with waste management solutions, aiming to preserve the urban identity while addressing current social and economic aspects. By analyzing case studies from Naples and Cairo, the research outlines a potential approach that can be adapted by various stakeholders to mitigate waste-related issues in historic cities. The proposed framework offers a holistic strategy for sustainable urban development, balancing historical preservation with modern needs.
The historic mineralogical instruments collection of the Real Museo Mineralogico, University of Naples Federico II: meaning and value
A previously understudied collection of over 50,000 mineralogical instruments at the Real Museo Mineralogico, University of Naples Federico II, has been systematically documented for the first time. This study reveals its significant scientific and historical value, tracing its origins to 1801 under King Ferdinando IV of Bourbon and Queen Maria Carolina. Through extensive archival research—including analysis of museum documents and state archives—the collection's instruments were cataloged with details on acquisition dates, typologies, uses, suppliers, methods, and prices. The findings highlight the museum's pivotal role in advancing mineralogy in Naples while enriching the broader historical record of scientific instrumentation.
The Museum of Children
A monumental complex in Naples, the Real Casa Santa dell'Annunziata, holds immense cultural and artistic significance as one of Italy's oldest childcare institutions. This study proposes innovative museal strategies to recover and enhance its memory, positioning it as a pivotal urban hinge. By leveraging its interdisciplinary heritage—spanning art, archives, and history—the research aims to foster a plural understanding of the site within future city planning. The approach combines strategic cultural management with digital-era perspectives, offering a blueprint for revitalizing degraded areas while preserving their historical legacy.
Circular Economy and adaptive reuse of historical buildings: an analysis of the dynamics between real estate and accommodation facilities in the city of Naples (Italy)
A significant correlation exists between the rise of Bed and Breakfasts (B&Bs) and the adaptive reuse of historical buildings in Naples' historic center, as demonstrated by spatial analysis using Geographic Information System (GIS). This study reveals that B&Bs, often emerging from repurposed heritage structures, are closely tied to real estate market dynamics. The research employed GIS to map residential building values, uncovering a pattern where new accommodation facilities—frequently located in historic buildings undergoing adaptive reuse—align with shifts in property markets. This finding underscores the potential of circular economy strategies in urban regeneration, offering a sustainable approach to revitalizing underused or abandoned heritage areas while addressing contemporary urban needs.
Further investigation on pockets of quiet within historical city centres: the case of widenings
Research reveals that widenings within historical city centers, such as those found in the ancient city center of Naples, possess significant restorative potential. These spaces, often overlooked among narrow streets, offer temporary respite from urban noise and chaos, comparable to the acoustically advantageous cloisters and courts of historic buildings. The study employed binaural recordings and in situ interviews to assess these spaces' acoustic peculiarities and non-acoustic characteristics, demonstrating their ability to induce restoration. This finding expands the understanding of quiet zones beyond traditional green parks, highlighting the importance of integrating such spaces into urban planning for historical city centers.
Monumento Grial: El Relato Artístico que Jalona el Camino del Santo Grial, Ruta del Conocimiento, Camino de la Paz
A collaborative artistic and historical project, 'Monumento Grial,' integrates the legend of the Holy Grail with UNESCO World Heritage Sites to revitalize cultural tourism. The initiative, led by Dr. Ana Mafé García, combines iconographic research from her thesis with the creative work of artist Dra. María Gómez Rodrigo to trace the Grail's path—from Jerusalem and Rome to Naples and Somport—linking it to existing heritage sites like the Royal Pantheon Monastery of San Juan de la Peña and Valencia Cathedral. The project emphasizes cross-sector collaboration between civil society, government, and industry to foster sustainable tourism development, blending art, history, and technology for educational and economic impact.
The Neapolitan way to the commons: poetics of irony and ‘creative use of the law’ in the case ofL’Asilo
Neapolitan social movements for the commons have successfully challenged clientelistic and corrupt public resource management, offering a scalable model of civic engagement. Through ethnographic research, this study highlights the cultural and political underpinnings of commoning practices in Naples, focusing on L'Asilo—a pioneering community that secured legal recognition for the 'civic use' of an occupied historic building. The approach combines irony and strategic legal maneuvering ('creative use of the law') to subvert traditional power structures while fostering alternative governance models. This case demonstrates how local activism can redefine public space, policy, and democratic participation, with implications extending beyond Naples.
Sustainable Development of the Historic Centre of Naples: The Impact of Vehicular Traffic and Food Service Business on Air Quality
A four-week monitoring campaign in Naples' historic center revealed that vehicular traffic significantly elevates fine particle (FP) concentrations, with levels on streets allowing average traffic being twice those observed in comparable European cities. Pedestrian-only streets exhibited FP levels similar to other urban areas, while spatial analysis indicated minimal contribution from food service businesses to overall pollution, though emissions were not measured at rooftop level. The study also found a correlation between street aspect ratio (H/W) and FP concentration, suggesting that street geometry plays a critical role in air quality dynamics. These preliminary findings underscore the need for long-term monitoring to inform sustainable development strategies for this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Environmental project and public space rehabilitation: the great project for the historic center of Naples Unesco World Heritage Site
A comprehensive approach to rehabilitating the Historic Centre of Naples has yielded practical guidelines for sustainable urban interventions. The project focuses on enhancing public spaces, roads, walkways, and squares while addressing complex urban challenges in large cities with EU funding. By adopting a multidisciplinary strategy, it provides actionable insights into strategic planning and process management for similar heritage conservation efforts. These guidelines aim to balance preservation with modern functionality, offering a model for sustainable urban development in historic contexts.
Local materials in the regeneration of urban space of the historic centre of the Metropolitan City of Naples
A key insight from this study is that the use of local materials significantly enhances the quality and perception of urban space, reinforcing a sense of belonging to place. This finding underscores the importance of sustainable exploitation of local resources for the regeneration of urban areas, particularly in the context of UNESCO World Heritage Sites like the Historic Centre of Naples. The research, conducted by the Urban Planning Board and Land Management Laboratory as part of a larger project on the enhancement of Naples' historic centre, explores how 92 municipalities within the Metropolitan City can preserve their distinct cultural profiles while addressing shared administrative challenges. It employs a multidisciplinary approach, integrating urban planning, architecture, and environmental sustainability to propose strategies for regenerating urban space that respect local identities and resources.
Narrations et appropriations dans le centre historique de Naples : des constructions identitaires situées
Research reveals that the historic center of Naples, particularly the Quartieri Spagnoli, is not monolithically subaltern but instead exhibits multiple situated identities and socio-spatial dynamics. This challenges the dominant narrative that portrays urban underclass practices as symbols of decay. By analyzing the practices, representations, and narrations of locally termed 'plebe' inhabitants alongside two specific urban situations, the study contrasts the discourse of dominant groups with grassroots urban production. The findings underscore a fragmented and composite identity construction within the historic center, offering a nuanced perspective on subaltern conditions in urban spaces.
The Gothic arcade of Santa Maria Incoronata in Naples: equilibrium of Gothic arches
A stability analysis of the Gothic arcade at Santa Maria Incoronata Church in Naples reveals the equilibrium and rationality behind its design, even without modern computational tools. The study uses analytical and graphical methods, including the line of thrust concept, to assess the structural integrity of the non-symmetrical front, which has undergone debatable restoration interventions. Findings demonstrate that historical engineers and architects relied on geometric rules and experience to achieve stability, offering insights into the structural knowledge of architectural heritage. This approach could be applied more broadly to other historic structures.
Energy retrofit of historic buildings in the Mediterranean area: the case of the Palaeontology Museum of Naples
Optimal energy retrofit solutions for historic buildings, particularly those with architectural constraints, can significantly reduce both primary and electric energy requirements without compromising heritage integrity. A study focusing on the Palaeontology Museum of Naples demonstrated that targeted interventions in air conditioning systems—such as dynamic simulations using specialized software—can achieve substantial energy savings while adhering to strict conservation guidelines. The research highlights the potential for Mediterranean historic structures to balance modern efficiency demands with the preservation of cultural significance, offering a scalable model for similar sites worldwide.
An irreconcilable first-place: the precarious life of tourism and heritage in a southern European historic centre
Naples' historic center embodies a precarious duality, where heritage tourism intersects with local life, evoking both anxiety and liberation. Unlike conventional narratives of gentrification or museumification, this study reveals that the area's allure lies in its affective experience—mixing excitement and foreboding—rather than monumental grandeur. Through three case studies—a bus tour, online reactions to a New York Times article, and local perceptions of a pedestrianized piazza—the research demonstrates how tourism here is shaped by contradictory emotions, challenging assumptions about the inevitable transformation of historic centers under visitor economies.
Cultural Heritage and Collaborative Urban Regeneration: The Sansevero Chapel Museum for the Historic Centre of Naples
The Sansevero Chapel Museum in Naples demonstrates that cultural heritage can drive effective urban regeneration without the pitfalls of museification or gentrification. Since the 1990s, the museum has actively engaged with stakeholders and local communities, notably supporting the 'Corpo di Napoli' initiative, to revitalize its historic surroundings while preserving its identity. This collaborative approach contrasts with traditional models that often lead to displacement or loss of cultural authenticity. The study highlights a successful model for balancing heritage preservation with urban development, offering insights applicable to other degraded historic centers.
From ‘southern’ to ‘ordinary’
A rethinking of spatial segregation in southern European cities, particularly Naples' historic centre, reveals that the concept of 'ordinary' better captures exclusionary dynamics than traditional 'southern' or postcolonial frameworks. The study challenges conventional associations between segregation and public space while examining how global issues like migration and cultural heritage reshape urban landscapes. Through long-standing research in Naples, it highlights nuanced patterns of spatial reordering, emphasizing the need to consider both inter- and intra-city exclusionary processes. This approach offers a more inclusive lens for analyzing urban transformations in southern Europe.
The Sanità district in Naples: community involvement in developing its heritage value
A renaissance is underway in Naples, with the Sanità district emerging as a key player in its cultural revival. Once marginalized and overlooked, this working-class neighborhood is now at the forefront of a locally driven heritage process known as 'heritagization.' This concept, rooted in community participation and associative dynamics, integrates historical preservation with social engagement to transmit the spirit of place. Research through direct interviews and surveys reveals that local stakeholders, including public and private actors, are actively shaping this transformation, addressing needs, aspirations, fears, and concerns. The study highlights successful heritagization outcomes and their social impact, offering a model for balancing heritage development with community involvement in UNESCO-recognized urban landscapes.
‘No Retreat, Even When Broken’
A striking example of classical reception in modern Naples is the symbolic appropriation of ancient ruins within Neapolitan presepi—elaborate Nativity scenes—as demonstrated by Marco Ferrigno's 2009 presepe per L'Aquila. This work replaced classical columns and aqueducts with shattered post-earthquake buildings, embodying the Latin phrase 'Nec Recisa Recedit' ('No retreat, even when broken') to confer redemptive meaning on ruins. The study highlights the dynamic interplay between classical aesthetics and contemporary cultural narratives in Naples, showcasing how ruins are repurposed within the presepe tradition to reflect resilience and renewal.
Ethnographic reflections on ‘oppositional heritage discourse’ in two post-earthquake Italian cities
Oppositional heritage discourse, though intended to counter neoliberal urban processes and marketization of cultural heritage, paradoxically supports them by enforcing rigid boundaries on heritage citizenship and dismissing non-philological relationships with historic centers. This study reveals that such discourse, exemplified in post-earthquake Naples (1980) and L’Aquila (2009), is rooted in idealist notions of collective identity but ultimately perpetuates the very systems it opposes. Ethnographic research in both cities—including observations of protests against government inaction in L’Aquila and long-term fieldwork in Naples—exposes the tensions between civic heritage advocacy and its unintended consequences, challenging assumptions about heritage discourse as purely oppositional.
The contested nature of heritage and the dilemmas of building cultural citizenship: the case of Italy
Cultural heritage, when mobilized without critical examination of its conceptual limits and internal differences, risks becoming exclusionary. This study highlights the contested nature of heritage and public memory, particularly in disaster-stricken cities like L’Aquila and Naples. It argues that strategic essentialism is necessary to effectively counter undesirable reconstruction programs or resist threats of speculation and evictions in historic centers. The research draws on theoretical frameworks to expose how disparate understandings of heritage challenge the grandiloquent posturing of public intellectuals who view architectural patrimony as a cornerstone for national cultural citizenship.
ICT Solutions for the OR.C.HE.S.T.R.A. Project: From Personalized Selection to Enhanced Fruition of Cultural Heritage Data
A novel ICT framework, developed under the OR.C.HE.S.T.R.A. Project, enhances cultural heritage engagement for tourists and residents in Naples by leveraging personalized data-driven recommendations and real-time accessibility solutions. This approach integrates smart tourism with social innovation, creating an ecosystem that involves stakeholders from companies to researchers. The system improves both the fruition of cultural knowledge—tailoring experiences based on user preferences—and its preservation through interactive and enjoyable learning pathways. By addressing challenges in heritage conservation and visitor experience simultaneously, this project demonstrates a scalable model for integrating technology into cultural heritage management.
On the perception of Limited Traffic Zones as urban noise mitigation action
Limited Traffic Zones (LTZs) can serve as effective urban noise mitigation strategies, but their long-term success depends on sustained implementation. A study in Naples' historic center found that while LTZs initially led to positive perceptions of the sonic environment—reducing noise annoyance and improving subjective sound quality—these benefits waned over time if not actively maintained. Researchers analyzed objective noise measurements and social surveys conducted before, immediately after, and one year post-LTZ implementation, revealing that even traffic management plans without a specific noise focus can indirectly mitigate urban sound-pressure levels. The findings suggest LTZs as promising tools for noise control but emphasize the need for continuous monitoring and policy reinforcement to preserve their acoustic benefits.
Soundscape variation in a historical city centre due to new traffic regulation
A new traffic regulation in Naples' historic center, the largest restricted traffic area (ZTL) in Europe, significantly altered the city's soundscape. This study found that while the ZTL aimed to improve sustainable mobility and quality of life, it also impacted auditory perception—an aspect often overlooked in urban renewal processes focused on tangible heritage. Through soundwalks conducted before and after implementing the ZTL, researchers analyzed variations in acoustical and environmental parameters, revealing how traffic restrictions can shape the intangible cultural soundscape of a World Heritage Site. These findings underscore the need to integrate auditory preservation into Management Plans for historic city centers, ensuring that interventions maintain both visual and sonic authenticity.
Tuff City
A pioneering study reveals the complex, often contentious process of urban regeneration in Naples' historic center, challenging conventional narratives and methodological approaches. By focusing on two piazzas and a centro sociale, the research exposes tensions between heritage preservation, security, pedestrianization, tourism, immigration, and contemporary protest movements. The monograph offers a critical lens on public space, citizenship, and urban transformation, providing new insights into how cities like Naples navigate cultural reimagining while addressing social and political challenges.
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