Paesaggi archeologici nei contesti urbani. Il caso dell’Anfiteatro romano di Catania (Italia)

Archaeological sites in urban centres represent tangible historical evidence, but they can also be a clear cut in the heart of cities. They are often undervalued, and their survival is threatened by stratifications with which they should coexist for mutual enhancement. An emblematic case is the Catania Roman amphitheatre, one of the most representative Sicilian examples of hypogeal monumental archaeology. The remains are located below the 18th and 19th-century urban fabric; they are in a precarious state of preservation and unsolved integration with the city. The paper presents the results of a helpful cogni- tive process to provide the basis for a conservation and restoration plan. After a specific archival survey about all the scientific studies carried out so far, the research has made photogrammetric and constructive surveys to identify the leading causes of decay and propose a design solution.