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

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.