The Arab - Norman civil architecture in Palermo: enhancement strategies

This contribution aims to deepen the knowledge of a historical and artistic heritage of the city of Palermo, i.e. the Arab-Norman civil architecture, yet not adequately utilized, despite its importance as a World Heritage Site'. Within the three royal parks (the Old, the New and the Genoardo), the Norman kings built the palaces of Maredolce, Zisa, Cuba and Scibene, always accompanied by water, both as a lake or as a fishpond, whose purpose was primarily hedonistic as well as productive. The transmission of the architectural heritage to the future presupposes its promotion through the creation of an appropriate strategy helping to spread its knowledge and enjoyment. For example, Sicily has few cases of interactivity, that is virtual reality applied to the architectural heritage through multimedia resources in order to "modernize" the cultural offer and the communication with all targets of audience. In many cases indeed, a monument is soon forgotten when it is restored but not integrated into the municipal system. A new interpretation is therefore proposed, based on the relief together with the story of the restorations and the understanding of the building within its urban context, which is compromised by an idea of protection limited only to the emergency.