Urban heritage fragility and antifragility: Matera and the 2019 European Capital of Culture

Davide Ponzini; Zachary M. Jones; Enrico Tommarchi; Stefano D’Armento; Alessandro Scandiffio; Franco Bianchini

doi:10.4337/9781035312559.00021

Urban heritage fragility and antifragility: Matera and the 2019 European Capital of Culture

Davide Ponzini, Zachary M. Jones, Enrico Tommarchi, Stefano D’Armento, Alessandro Scandiffio, Franco Bianchini

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (peer-reviewed) › peer-review

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Abstract

The city of Matera is known internationally for its prehistoric built heritage and for being the oldest continuously inhabited city in Europe. Until the Covid-19 pandemic, the heritage area of the “Sassi” used to attract significant numbers of tourists and day-trippers. This exerted significant pressure on this fragile part of the city. The plans for the Matera-Basilicata 2019 European Capital of Culture (ECoC) included measures that focused on the Sassi and others that intended to expand the set of heritage and cultural attractions in other parts of the city, as well as to strengthen the social and economic system of Matera as an innovation hub for the region. While the mega-event planning and delivery improved accessibility, public spaces and the local cultural economy, the ECoC did not significantly and directly reduce the fragility of the city’s heritage. This contribution discusses the relationship between urban heritage and mega-event policies and discusses it in the light of a fragility/antifragility theoretical framework.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Fragility and Antifragility in Cities and Regions
Subtitle of host publication	Space, Uncertainty and Inequality
Editors	Francesco Curci, Daniele Chiffi
Publisher	Edward Elgar Publishing
Chapter	12
Pages	198-212
Number of pages	15
ISBN (Electronic)	9781035312559
ISBN (Print)	9781035312542
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.4337/9781035312559.00021
Publication status	Published - 9 Jan 2024

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Ponzini, D., Jones, Z. M., Tommarchi, E., D’Armento, S., Scandiffio, A., & Bianchini, F. (2024). Urban heritage fragility and antifragility: Matera and the 2019 European Capital of Culture. In F. Curci, & D. Chiffi (Eds.), Fragility and Antifragility in Cities and Regions: Space, Uncertainty and Inequality (pp. 198-212). Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781035312559.00021

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Ponzini, D, Jones, ZM, Tommarchi, E, D’Armento, S, Scandiffio, A & Bianchini, F 2024, Urban heritage fragility and antifragility: Matera and the 2019 European Capital of Culture. in F Curci & D Chiffi (eds), Fragility and Antifragility in Cities and Regions: Space, Uncertainty and Inequality. Edward Elgar Publishing, pp. 198-212. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781035312559.00021

Urban heritage fragility and antifragility: Matera and the 2019 European Capital of Culture. / Ponzini, Davide; Jones, Zachary M.; Tommarchi, Enrico et al.
Fragility and Antifragility in Cities and Regions: Space, Uncertainty and Inequality. ed. / Francesco Curci; Daniele Chiffi. Edward Elgar Publishing, 2024. p. 198-212.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (peer-reviewed) › peer-review

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Urban heritage fragility and antifragility: Matera and the 2019 European Capital of Culture

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