Enhancing Sicilian Tocchi. Lightning Smart Solutions for the Valorization of Architectural Heritage

Italian architecture in historic small towns is defined by elements such as galleries, arcades, vaults, and arches, which reflect a rich architectural and cultural heritage. Despite their historical and aesthetic value, these features often remain undervalued and hidden. This paper explores how artificial lighting can rediscover and promote these architectural techniques, emphasizing materials and forms that define traditional villages and towns. The study focuses on the Madonie area, particularly in the municipality of Polizzi Generosa, where proposed lighting interventions aim to reveal lesser-known corners and details of the town called tocchi. These spaces, removed from traditional tourist routes, represent a construction history that deserves respect and enhancement. The proposed lighting system highlights traditional techniques, textures, and proportions, creating a dialogue between tradition and innovation. It transforms public spaces and pathways into cultural experiences, enhancing their functionality and nighttime livability while fostering public awareness about craftsmanship and heritage. This approach seeks to balance technological innovation with respect for architectural integrity, providing a model for promoting and protecting historic towns. Lighting becomes a storytelling medium, capable of revealing the value of these places and encouraging tourism. By raising awareness of traditional construction methods and their potential for reuse, this study demonstrates how lighting can contribute to both cultural preservation and sustainable tourism and development. Ultimately, it underscores the role of conscious and creative lighting design in safeguarding the unique architectural heritage of Italy’s historic towns.