Figure 1. View of Mondovì Piazza, Italy. Source: www.visitcuneese.it
By Giulia Marchiano
During the Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) on ‘Heritage and Future Landscapes’ in Gothenburg in October 2024, I explored new tools for interpreting and preserving cultural landscapes, such as Historic Landscape Characterisation (HLC) and Historic Urban Landscape (HUL). These methodologies offer a broader view of what we mean by ‘historic landscape’ and have inspired me to look at my hometown, Mondovì, in a different light, not just as a place steeped in the past but as a complex landscape in which the links between community, space, and history are intertwined [1].
The Historic Landscape Characterization (HLC) course taught me that a photo can say much more than what is seen on the surface. It reveals a place’s material and immaterial culture and reflects its hidden histories, ties, and wounds [2].
So, I invite you to look at the photographs I have selected and let yourself be carried away by the details. I don’t want to reveal too much, but I will give you a little hint: we are in Mondovì, a small Italian town near the border with French Provence.
About This Blog Series
This is the sixth blog post of the series of 24 blogs prepared by graduate students and early career professionals who shared their views on the future of heritage and landscape planning.
The writers of these blogposts participated in the Heriland Blended Intensive Programme “Heritage and the Planning of Landscapes” in October 2024 in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Now that you have analyzed the images and formed an idea let me tell you my version of the story. It is a personal story because Mondovì is the city I carry in my heart. It is where I have spent most of my life, and that is why I see it not only through the eyes of the architect and heritage conservator that I am, but also through the lens of a citizen.
Mondovì is a city rich in historical stratifications; each era has left a tangible mark on its architecture [3]. It was once a city of great power in Piedmont and Liguria; its territories extended far beyond the boundaries of the built city [4]. In the scene of Napoleon’s first battle in Italy, it resisted the advancing French army for three days, with only the inhabitants putting up a fight, though small in number. With its tales of resilience and grandeur, this rich past is a treasure we must cherish [5].
Mondovì’s Baroque churches speak of a past in which its curia extended its influence over many neighboring centers [6]. Renowned architects were called upon to build here to create a center that was the beating heart of a prosperous community [7-8].
But you may now be asking yourself: If Mondovì has such a rich past, why is there no soul to be seen in the pictures? Is it a stylistic choice, or has it become a ghost town?
And this is where the point of my blog comes in. Historic Landscape Characterisation helps us understand how history influences every aspect of the landscape, dealing not only with monuments but also the relationships between different elements of a place [9]. Applying the HLC concept to Mondovì means not merely cataloging its historic buildings but considering how its citizens live and perceive these spaces. The character of a landscape derives, in fact, from the intertwining of historical and contemporary processes, which require a change management oriented to preserve the identity of the place [10].
Mondovì is unfortunately dying, and this is not a melodramatic sentence. My city is suffering, and it seems that those who should heal it only deepen its wounds. The photos you have seen are emblematic: they were not taken on an ordinary day but during events organized to attract visitors and liven up the streets. Yet, the squares, the streets, and the meeting places remain desolate. This is a call to action, a plea for us to come together and heal our city.
But how can no one be there during events dedicated to the city?
The answer is bitter. In the early 2000s, Mondovì was hit by two devastating decisions: the closure of the university campus and the construction of a large shopping center outside the city.
Both of these choices, imposed from above, dealt a severe blow to the heart of the community, a blow from which Mondovì has never recovered. The economic crisis of 2008 did the rest, and the historic center slowly emptied, shops closed, and citizens stopped frequenting its streets.
Now Mondovì is in a vicious circle: young people have to move elsewhere to study and work, the historic center depopulates, and with it also disappears the life and soul of a community that is forced to abandon its home, its memories, and its roots.
The Historic Urban Landscape (HUL) further expands the concept of urban heritage, promoting an approach that integrates heritage management with sustainable urban development [11]. The HUL approach is community-centered and inclusive of different actors, from local government to citizens, and focuses on shared values and vulnerabilities of the urban landscape. Applying the HUL approach in practice would begin with the community’s involvement in the planning and decision-making processes for events aimed at activating Mondovì [12]. For example, a HUL-informed approach to city celebrations could focus on strengthening local identity by integrating historical narratives, promoting local crafts, and creating spaces for interaction that bring residents and visitors together. This method would ensure that such celebrations become meaningful opportunities to reconnect the community with its heritage while promoting economic and social vitality by aligning the event’s goals with the city’s broader cultural and social context. Applying HUL in Mondovì could help define strategies beyond mere physical conservation, aiming instead at urban regeneration that considers the community’s identity and well-being.
Mondovì needs a vision that connects its cultural heritage to the future. This means including residents in decisions, re-evaluating abandoned spaces, and creating a local economy that brings life to the historic center. As the HUL suggests, the urban landscape is not just the sum of buildings but a complex ecosystem that lives through its inhabitants and activities. The redevelopment of public spaces and the creative use of historic buildings could sustainably attract young people, innovators, and tourists. The integrated HLC-HUL approach offers the possibility of breathing new life into Mondovì, respecting its historical character but adapting it to modern needs.
By telling this story and making the desperate cries of a dying city heard, it will convey how important it is not to abandon a town but rather to listen to it and take care of it.
Bibliography
[1] Fairclough, G., & Rippon, S. (2002). Europe’s Cultural Landscape: Archaeologists and the Management of Change. EAC Occasional Paper. Council of Europe.
[2] Herring, P. (2009). Historic Landscape Characterisation: Taking Stock of the Method. In Landscapes, 10(1), 21-40.
[3] Carboneri, N. (1971) Antologia Artistica del Monregalese. Torino. Istituto Bancario San Paolo di Torino.
[4] Cera, G. (2011) Mondovì, suggestioni d’altri tempi. Dove la parola incontra l’immagine. Mondovì. Rotary Club Mondovì.
[5] Mamino, L., Pellegrino, M. (1984) Incanti Ordinari. Visita all’architettura “minore” del monregale. Cuneo. L’arciere.
[6] Bertone, L. (2010) Arte nel Monregalese. Savigliano. L’Artistica.
[7] Comoli, V., Palmucci, L. (2000) Francesco Gallo 1672-1750. Un architetto ingegnere tra Stato e Provincia. Torino. Celid.
[8] Billò, E. (2022) Un’idea di Mondovì. Sguardi e ricordi prima che tutto cambi…forse in meglio. Mondovì. Cooperativa Editrice Monregalese.
[9] Turner, S., & Fairclough, G. (2007). Common Culture: The Archaeology of Landscape Character in Europe.Journal of European Archaeology, 10(1), 1-17.
[10] Veldpaus, L., Pereira Roders, A. R., & Colenbrander, B. J. F. (2013). Urban Heritage: Putting the Past into the Future. The Historic Environment: Policy & Practice, 4(1), 3-18.
[11] Bandarin, F., & van Oers, R. (2012). The Historic Urban Landscape: Managing Heritage in an Urban Century. Wiley-Blackwell.
[12] Erkan, Y. (2018). Historic Urban Landscape Approach for Sustainable Urban Development: A Case Study of Istanbul. Cities, 74, 135-144.
About the author
Giulia Marchiano is a PhD candidate in Architecture at the Department of Architecture (DiARC) at the University of Naples Federico II, funded by a DM 352 scholarship as part of an industrial doctorate in partnership with ETT S.p.A. With expertise in sustainable maintenance and redevelopment of the built environment; her research focuses on building rehabilitation technology, specifically exploring maintenance strategies supported by new ICT technologies.
Contact the author: giulia.marchiano@unina.it – giulia.marchiano96@gmail.com