L’immagine della memoria: la rappresentazione di un frammento di paesaggio urbano sommerso [Image and memory: representation of a fragment of “submerged” urban landscape]

Our cities have such an ancient history that it is sometimes difficult for memory to transmit its signs, or for any iconographic source to reflect its image. The recovery of fragmentary portions of urban areas and the potentials for conservation often clash with the intervention policies, and conflict with the demands of modernity, even if these are connected with traditional events. This requires painful choices which allow, despite themselves, for oblivion to continue. For the present study it was not possible to utilize a detailed contemporary instrumental survey. The project has therefore been conducted on the basis of photographic and direct surveys of excavation campaigns, applying modelling software to attempt a scientific reconstruction of what remains of the oldest urban layout on the island of Ortigia (city of S yracuse). The primary aim is to achieve visibility and accessibility for what is no longer visible, in order to return it to the memory of the community.