Green Practices for the Reconnection of the Historic Urban Fabric: A Case Study of Naro (Sicily)

Abstract

Minor Southern Italian population centers present a fragmented and uneven urban land-scape, resulting from abandonment and depopulation phenomena that have led, espe-cially in historic city centers, to urban voids scattered with rubble, buildings in a state of ruin, and others with evident structural collapses. Within a broader urban regeneration strategy for these centers, aligned with current national and European policies, the recov-ery of these vacant spaces can play a decisive role in enhancing urban quality and the desired touristic appeal, with social, economic, and environmental implications. These ar-eas may also become valuable resources for innovating the urban core in a green transition process, contributing to carbon neutrality goals while improving residents’ quality of life. This paper addresses the importance of pocket parks as systems of resilience against cli-mate change and hydrogeological risks, as well as rainwater drainage systems in densely built urban areas with strong historical character. The study includes a case study appli-cation focusing on a location in the Sicilian hinterland, notable for its historical and archi-tectural value. The urban center under examination, Naro in the province of Agrigento, has experienced significant depopulation over the past fifty years, and the designation of its provincial capital as the Italian Capital of Culture 2025 could provide the opportunity for revival through small-scale, low-cost, and sustainable actions.