La valorizzazione del Castello Angioino di Civitacampomarano, Molise

The medieval village of Civitacampomarano, located in the province of Campobasso and populated by around 300 inhabitants, is dominated by the mighty Angevin Castle, one of the most beautiful in the Molise region. Originally isolated from the town centre, in the 18th century the castle became an obstacle for the inhabitants’ lives who during the insurrection of 1795 filled in the moat to connect the ‘two’ towns divided by the castle, changing its structure forever. From its origins the fortress has been the heart of this town which preserves an authentic and resilient character. To face the risk of depopulation and prevent the fate that has affected so many Italian villages, since 2016 the locals have started an ambitious project to develop quality and valorise the village. Through participatory management, that actively involving residents, the urban regeneration process has been entrusted to art and urban creativity, making Civitacampomarano an example of regeneration of great relevance even beyond national frontiers. This innovative approach aims not only to preserve the historical and cultural heritage of the village, but also to stimulate a renovated sense of belonging to the place and the community. The castle has been skilfully integrated into the town’s rebirth process, acquiring a new centrality in the construction of the village’s new identity. In addition to hosting contemporary art exhibitions and cultural events, it plays a key role in preserving the history and origins of the city. This monument respectfully preserves the identity of a place that has become a testimony to the spirit of survival and that, in order to r-exist, has had to adapt and transform itself. Thanks to this balance between tradition and contemporaneity, the castle can be taken as a symbol of the entire village’s capacity for rebirth. In this perspective, the article aims to highlight the ‘social use value’ that the action of valorising the castle was able to deploy.