The Italian way to deconcentration. Rome the appeal of the historic centre. Chieti-Pescara the strength of the periphery

The phenomena of residential deconcentration started in Italy during the 1970s following the creation of physical infrastructures and a national policy of welfare. In the meanwhile the non residential deconcentration process was partly either the result of market dynamism and of the decisions concerning the location of physical infrastructures. We have also to consider that the historical identity of Italian cities has contributed to slow the process of deconcentration both for residents and for local SME. The two case studies, Rome and Pescara-Chieti, are both in central Italy. The municipality of Rome dominates its monocentric MA; there are, indeed, two major municipalities, Pescara and Chieti, dominating the second polycentric MA. These characteristics influence the process of deconcentration. The two MA are historically connected through the Tiburtina Roman Consular Road, which was, since the 1970’s substituted in its functions, by the highway. The two deconcentration phenomena along this axis are not connected, at the moment, but there is some evidence of possible developments in the future. The two case studies offer an example of small scale deconcentration. In the case of Rome MA, the deconcentrated activities are diffused, especially for the commercial sector, on the city edge and they are strongly influenced by the presence of the Great Ring Road. The deconcentration of the industrial sector mainly concerns the suburban rings. In the case of Pescara-Chieti MA, there is not a trend of deconcentration centre-periphery, but it occurs along the highway and in specific individual locations. The process is guided by the commercial sector, continuously looking for new spaces for new openings and restructuring. Both the cases still show a strong dominance of the centre (s).