The Enhancement of the Permanences as a Strategy for Recovery of the Inner Areas of the Marche region, Italy: The multilevel approach of territory, culture and people

The depopulation of inner areas is a phenomenon impacting many areas of Italy. The lack of services, the difficult connection, the seismic and hydrogeological risk, the ageing population, and migration are some of the factors that contribute to this trend.

This research aims to create a theoretical, methodological, and practical contribution to the debate on the depopulation of these territories and the preservation of cultural heritage. The approach is developed in the inner areas of the Marche in the centre of Italy. This is a unique region, with a fragmented territory and over 70% of the municipalities with less than 5,000 inhabitants. The fast and uncontrolled economic development of the 1980s led to an unrestrained movement of people accentuated by the 2008 financial crisis and the 2016 earthquake, with the mountainous areas further from the coast facing a steady decrease in inhabitants.

This thesis explores the culture-led regeneration of the inner cities of the Marche, focusing on researching and enhancing heritage and historical knowledge. It critically identifies key elements of the historic city as catalysers for regeneration, emphasising that effective strategies require community participation at the centre of the design project. The approach is developed on three levels. The first is the macro level, which corresponds to the Marche region. Considering the complex historical evolution of the region and the fragmentation of the territory, the city of Ascoli Piceno represents the meso level within the inner areas as characterised by primary elements, which are catalysts for the culture-led regeneration of the city. Among these, a building has been selected as a case study on the micro-scale, the Palazzo Malaspina, a Renaissance palazzo in the city centre.

This case study highlights the problem of buildings within the historical town, which, by contrast, have great potential. These buildings possess inherent potential to serve as resources for innovative territorial strategies. Involving the community in determining suitable functions for these structures can transform them into propelling permanence, playing a pivotal role in urban and regional transformations. The research builds a theoretical framework, a methodology based on different data collection methods for the study of the three levels and the definition of a strategic programme of local development. The outcomes identified through the case study provide an approach for regeneration projects of similar scope, areas, and regions, contributing to the debate on how best practices should involve all stakeholders in culture-led regeneration.