Transforming obsolete spaces into vital places Historic italian villages as laboratories of sustainability

Today, Italian villages, the so-called “borghi”, are the focus of political, urban, economic and social attention. As specific “Italian urban models”, the small historic villages seek to reinvent their image without losing identity and sense of place, creating a solid synergy between environment, economy and society. These actions safeguard natural and cultural resources and contribute to social well-being. Communities, institutions, entrepreneurs and associations are encouraging a return to the Italian hinterland for better living conditions. Bringing these realities back to life means adopting far-sighted policies focused on innovation, strategic investments and creativity. Our chapter analyses two Italian case studies. The first is in Abruzzo, in Santo Stefano di Sessanio, which has chosen the preservation and enhancement of its cultural heritage and biodiversity to counter depopulation, strengthening the recovery of its traditions and sense of community.The second is inLiguria, inBussana Vecchia, where an abandoned village was given a new lease of life by several artists who upgraded abandoned spaces, transforming them into residences and ateliers. The two selected cases show how complex regeneration processes can transform some villages with unique features into laboratories of sustainability, capable of suggesting attractive urban solutions that take up past traditions, innovate them, providing alternative answers to emerging needs and aspirations, contributing to a cultural, environmental and people-centred transition.