Cultural heritage and contextual regeneration. The case of Torre del Fiscale in Rome

The development of contemporary cities is characterised by an increasing diversity and dispersion of settlements, activities, services and the structuring of public spaces. Within the broader discourse on urban regeneration, this paper offers a reflection on the role that dispersed cultural heritage plays in the physical and functional organisation of the city, as a reflection of the interaction between community and context, particularly in marginalised or declining urban areas, by enhancing cultural heritage as a structural component and promoting identity, social inclusion and the local economy. The case of the Torre del Fiscale area in Rome, characterised by the presence of predominantly spontaneous settlements and widespread cultural heritage, can represent, when viewed from a network perspective, an opportunity to configure a range of cultural spaces capable of triggering a regeneration process, promoting shared pathways of enhancement and repurposing. Thinking in these terms means re-establishing environmental, social and cultural relationships to restore urban quality. This contribution forms part of the research work on activities relating to Thematic Line 4 of the Extended Partnership 5 CHANGES (NRRP).