Post seismic intervention strategies over the last fifty years in Italy (1968-2016). Initial observations about the vernacular architecture's conservation

The numerous reconstruction experiences after the great earthquakes occurred in Italy during the last fifty years (Sicily, 1968 – central Italy, 2016) have given way to a great improvement of the Italian post-seismic emergency management and differ from each other by their results in terms of degree of conservation of the pre-existent buildings. Through the summary analysis of the legislation adopted for the reconstruction process after the Belice (1968) and Friuli (1976) earthquakes, this contribution aims at investigating the peculiarities of the different intervention strategies adopted for the conservation of the traditional masonry buildings and the historical built landscape – to which they belong – recognised as the essential component of the Italian cultural heritage. Specifically, the 1968 and 1976 earthquakes provided an opportunity to enhance the cultural debate on the approach to the towns destroyed by seismic events and initiated an ongoing process which progressively moved towards an increasing recognition of the vernacular architecture’s value.