Dinamiche di abbandono e ricostruzione dopo il terremoto del Belice: tra vecchio e nuovo centro

The dual recent history of Poggioreale – the 17th-century founded city and the contemporary city – is inextricably linked to the events surrounding the reconstruction of Belice following the 1968 earthquake. Indeed, the abandonment of the towns affected by the earthquake and the foundation of new towns based on contemporary urban designs shaped the strategy of the reconstruction process. The latter was more oriented to economic and social revival rather than providing an effective response to the specific conditions of damage. Thus, in the aftermath of the earthquake, even for Poggioreale, the transfer of the town was decreed, despite limited damage compared to other neighbouring towns. Today, the specific events of Poggioreale antica show a town that has been abandoned for almost six decades: however, its urban layout and much of its built heritage remain recognisable, together with the collective memory of the community. In contrast to this dynamic, the contemporary city is also marked by the tangible abandonment of two-thirds of its unused built heritage, which was originally oversized and is currently facing a depopulation process. This contribution offers a parallel reading of the events that affected both the old town – from the damage caused by the earthquake to the start of the reconstruction process and its current condition – and the new town – the current location of the community that still lives there. The analysis is grounded on the assumption that only a synergistic approach between the objectives of preserving the old centre and reviving the contemporary city can guarantee the survival of two very different realities that would otherwise be destined to the same decline.