La trasformazione dei complessi conventuali in palazzi comunali in Sicilia in età post-unitaria

Following the 1866-1867 laws suppressing the ecclesiastical benefices, the Italian State acquired a large corpus of Church properties, including conventual complexes that were subsequently reconfigured for civil uses. This research examines the processes through which convents were transformed into municipal headquarters in post-unification Sicily, a widespread phenomenon across the regional territory. Drawing on bibliographic and documentary investigations conducted primarily in municipal historical archives, the study identifies four main design approaches: demolition and reconstruction ex novo; radical reconfiguration of the existing architectures; conservative adaptation with limited interventions; and hybrid solutions mediating between conservation and transformation. Through the analysis of a set of emblematic case studies, the research offers a representative overview of the strategies adopted, illuminating the complex interplay between functional requirements, aspirations for formal updating, and the recognition of the historical and identity value of the pre-existing buildings