Historical network for the regeneration of the contemporary city

The paper aims to investigate the cultural heritage role relating to the contemporary city. In particular, it analyses some case studies where planning highlight the role of historical network within strategies useful to regenerate the contemporary city, taking the opportunity to rebuild the - ences the concept of cultural heritage because its shape and topics (e.g. urban sprawl, environmental fragmenta- - ervation of the historical values (i.e. abandoned historical centers, fragmented signs impressed on the palimpsest, dispersion of local cultures) and so it represents the place where rediscover the rooted traces of today’s dispersed identity. These traces could constitute, in the regeneration strategies of the contemporary city, a network of value useful to protect what already exist (even giving a new role for the society) and, at the same time, to structure and re-shape the contemporary city (homologated, trivialized), integrating conservation and innovation, socio-economic revitalization and socio-cultural enhancement. It is not only important to preserve the historical features itself, but also the relationship that they create together and the historical continuity of the social evolution. This network of values (often unusual, opposite) is both the material and immaterial dimension of the public space where the contemporary society could enhance its identity.