The Reshaping of the City-Port Interface in Palermo: A Case of Successful Urban Governance?

Abstract

In the last decades, various port cities in western countries have developed policies to make shipping activities more compatible with the urban environment and organization. This paper provides a critical interpretation of the process that is leading to the regeneration of the waterfront area of Palermo, the Italian fifth largest city by population. In a first part of the paper the events and economic factors that have negatively impacted on the city-port spatial relations are outlined. Subsequently, in the light of the new governance relations established between the city and port authorities, the strategy and main interventions of the port masterplan that is currently reshaping the city-port interface are described in details. In the light of the changing structure of local economy, the paper concludes with a discussion of the threats and opportunities the current regeneration process can provide on the city’s future development.