Palermo, Historic Center between Water and Greenery: A Possible Future?

Abstract

Palermo is undergoing a prolonged period of transformation. Beginning with the redevelopment of its historic center more than twenty years ago, citizens have gradually reclaimed the city’s historic spaces and public areas. This process has also encouraged the renewal of green spaces, with an – hopefully – increasingly sustainable approach. At the same time, the growth of tourism has contributed to changes in settlement patterns and urban dynamics.Moreover, the recent effects of climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic have highlighted, worldwide, the importance of proper water resource management of water resources and the presence of green areas within inhabited centers, particularly historic gardens of great monumental and naturalistic value, of which Palermo is especially rich. These concerns intersect and reinforce one another as the specter of drought looms, with consequences for both residents and for the conservation of gardens and monumental parks. Within the historic city of Palermo, several episodes demonstrate the need to rethink the management of green spaces and water resources, starting from virtuous examples such as the Botanical Garden and initiatives aimed at the redevelopment of the Oreto river and its long-forgotten ecosystem, to the broader issue of redeveloping the city’s southern Coast, including the so-called Cala, the ancient port of Palermo with the remains of Castellammare. This process requires a necessary dialogue – although not always pursued or fully considered – with preexisting structures and with the sea. This study argues that Palermo must develop shared policies, grounded in dialogue with its historical contexts, the better address the demands of environmental sustainability. Such policies will also influence restoration strategies for monumental heritage, contributing to an overall improvement in the quality of life in the historic city.