Local heritage to build resilience. The case of Arquata del Tronto in the Marche Region

Recent seismic events have caused extensive damage to cultural heritage in the inland areas of the Marche region of Italy, showing the extreme fragility of the territorial system, with strong consequences on the economic and social context. In historic villages, the high seismic vulnerability of the buildings has caused the most significant damage; it is particularly complex to apply regulations and design tools there, aimed at protecting and preserving historical-cultural values; the strategies of re-building are also very complex. Therefore, it is necessary to start from an expansive knowledge of the peculiar features of the historical system of the central Apennines, mostly unknown, to identify recurrent types and techniques through which the foundations and subsequent development of the buildings were laid. In the present research, a methodology is proposed for an evaluation of the resilience of historic villages, analysing in particular historical building techniques, to verify their effectiveness for seismic purposes and to propose an increase in safety, on which to base conscious reconstruction. The aim of the research is to propose sustainable measures, both from a technical and an application point of view, considering the historical and cultural value of the buildings. In general, the development of specific risk assessment methodologies is necessary to propose strategies to increase the resilience of historic centres. With this purpose, the area of Arquata del Tronto is taken as a case study. The territory is rich in ancient testimonies, tangible and intangible assets. It’s a stratification of cultural and figurative elements, which start from the pre-classical age and, through the Middle Ages, up to the modern age, in a continuum of life and agro-silvo-pastoral activities. The different post-earthquake situations therefore require the development of a complex and articulated strategy to build resilience, that considers the specific local conditions.