Historic centres: since when are they an issue?

Abstract

This paper is an attempt to present a sort of «genealogy» of the concept of historic centres, starting from the early modern age to the most recent documents drawn up by international bodies (such as UNESCO) who deal with the urban landscape of existing cities. New strategies for creating un urban image charged with architectural significance, like the ones that the Museums in Bilbao, Rovereto and Barcelona give to their respective cities, can help us to consider the function that special buildings can have in controlling mass tourism, at least in part. It is a question of suggesting itineraries that differ from the traditional ones and a diversification of users (tourists, scholars, citizens of different age, culture and origin, children, older people, immigrants). It is a question of promoting new routes and selecting new places of interest.