Reconstruction of urban heritage in post-war Rome, 1944-1951: Transnational flows and national identity

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Italy serves as a point of reference for the conservation community worldwide, thanks to the intense development of heritage studies and urban planning during the post-war period. Although scholars have discussed the interconnection between urban reconstruction and identity renewal in post-war Rome, the role of transnational flows in this connection has been little studied. This research aims to examine the crucial and understudied period from 1944 to 1951 in post-war Rome, when the construction of a renewed national identity through reconstruction activities intersected intricate processes of exchange with other cultures. How did transnational flows and national renewal shape each other? Considering architecture and built environment can create and affirm cultural values, my research will explore the research question from the disciplinary perspective of urban heritage studies. It will investigate the reciprocal interchanges between Italian urban culture and other European/American cultures, evaluating their impacts on reconstruction strategies for Rome. Moreover, transnational flows imply different ways of viewing oneself and others in the formation of collective memories after trauma. In this vein, this research will contribute to the ongoing global debate on post-conflict cultural heritage and foster a better understanding of the shared cultural and political history embodied in Europe-wide post-war settlements.