Earthquake and Enhancement: An Opportunity to Preserve the Medieval Castle of Fossa (L’Aquila, Italy)

Can a seismic event be seen as an opportunity for the conservation of architectural heritage? This question was the starting point for the discussion that were held during the feedback form the cognitive analysis which was in turn preliminary to the formation of the Reconstruction plan of Fossa, one of the many small historical settlements heavily damaged by the L’Aquila earthquake in 2009. In this study, the medieval castle which characterizes the historic centre, becomes the paradigm to show that if the post-earthquake reconstruction is tackled with a perspective that focuses on sustainability and preservation of the historic fabric, the monuments, which are at its heart, will inevitably be involved in a new phase, that recognizes in their historical nature the profound meaning of their beauty.