Della Scala Valerio, Leotta Sebastiano, (2018) HORTUS BELICE. THE SPACE FOR WINE PRODUCTION IN THE VALLE DEL BELICE.

This thesis is the result of a research conducted during the 2015, and its origin dates back to a trip in the area of the Belice Valley in the summer of 2013. The work originates from a constant dialogue between the two authors and takes shape after the discussions on the subject with Professors Angelo Sampieri at Politecnico di Torino, Roberto Collovà at his homestudio in Palermo and, in the final part of the project, Michele Bonino. The work focuses on the survey of the territory of the Belice Valley, and is intended to identify a potential for the economic recovery of the area, and to improve the quality of life of its inhabitants. This advocated relaunch is the necessary condition in order to avoid the museification process (Collovà R 14.01.2015), which marked and still marks this territory after the earthquake that in 1968 destroyed about 90% of the local architectonic heritage (Lotà, Noto 1976). Today, this area is experiencing important changes, which policies and projects seem not to understand entirely. It is evident that the catastrophe represented a coagulant agent which strengthened the collective memory (Collovà R 14/1/2015); however, this memory has monopolized the debate, since it has always been centred on the celebration of the past, while ignoring the innovations produced in the meanwhile. Today the practices and forms of the agricultural production, which is the main production activity of the area, are increasingly to be linked to supralocal dimensions. A production which is experiencing a sharp discontinuity, if compared to the period before the earthquake. The agricultural and food production sector and the related practices are central in our work. The interpretation of the territory is able to create a diversified and polymorphic space, and is itself at the basis of the planning of the representation of the new emerging realities of the area and on which it is possible to intervene (Dematteis 1995, pp.37). During the research, gained ground the idea of identifying the leading actors of the local economic wine sector and of trying to collaborate with them, in order to understand their needs and interpret them.