Strategies for dissemination of historical knowledge and promotion of tourism in the reuse of churches

At present one of the greatest opportunities for sustainable development of the built environment is the reuse of architectural heritage. At the same time, the conception of cultural heritage has been amplified, assuming a leading role in the local schools of thought as concerns the cultural economics. Starting from the historical and artistic value of single artefacts, the understanding of the cultural resource has already extended beyond the actual monument to include the urban context and, furthermore, is able to motivate new forms of participation and social coherence.Thus, we ask what links this heritage to changes in meaning? What changes in the ‘taste’ of the community, the progressive way in which changes in the cultural patrimony are ‘viewed’ and considered: that is what contemporaneity and universality of their message consists in. From this point of view the reuse of deconsecrated churches is today a delicate issue.Research carried out in the context of the history of architecture is an essential support to strengthen the knowledge of monuments that must be preserved through reuse. An interesting case for the implementation, enhancement and tourist promotion of a reuse project is offered by the church of Sant’Aniello a Caponapoli.