Public Monuments in Rural Open Spaces. Minimum Projects for the Rehabilitation of Transhumant Rural Heritage in Sicily and Andalusia

Investigating the theme of cultural heritage within the Mediterranean geographical context entails an exploration of the intricate relationship between humans, artifacts, and nature, framed through the lens of ecosystem dynamics. The historically and culturally analogous regions of Sicily and Andalusia delineate a distinctive area of the Inland Sea in which the genesis of culture has, over time, produced physical transformations of the landscape that remain exemplary today. These contexts allow for the recognition of a shared and unequivocal conception of both the right to nature and the right to culture, particularly evident within the anthropized environments of the inland terri tories. The ethological dimension - relating to emerging modes of inhabiting space - offers a framework for inter preting social aspirations in light of the tangible and intangible legacies that shape Mediterranean collective memory. Within this perspective, transhumant practices reclaim an ethical dimension of land usage, deeply tied to their nomadic nature. Although these practices have largely lost their economic and productive functions, the built traces they left behind bear witness to ancestral spatial equilibria-signaling ancient routes, proximity to water sources, and bioclimatic qualities conducive to rest. Efforts to promote sustainable access and engagement with these culturally significant areas may find guidance in ecotourism and the creation of cultural itineraries, which together could serve as a methodological foundation for community-driven development rooted in shared heritage. Accordingly, the systemic revitalization of these rural open spaces is increasingly entrusted to minimalist architectural interventions that foster recognition and resilience as a public monument reflecting the ethical relationship between environment and community.