Art heritage and landscapes, a shared place for building a collective memory undergoing transformation

Abstract

This paper documents a research project conducted in the cities of Mantua and Sabbioneta, in cooperation with local authorities, with the aim of engaging residents and tourists in the quest for an alternative and more participatory way of giving voice to these towns. The actions implemented led to the development of a kit for exploring the participating cities, based on personal stories, old maps and photos, and exploratory field trips with secondary school students.  The narratives that were collected, as well as interviews with key informants, provided live material with new perspectives informing the participating students’ discovery of the towns and the recovery of a shared memory, now to be brought alive.