Historic, Artistic and Cultural Patrimony for a “Habitable City”: Incentives for Care

The Encyclical Letter Laudato sì of the Holy Father Francis on Care for Our Common Home recognizes historic, artistic and cultural patrimony—which is, like the patrimony of nature, under threat—«part of the shared identity of each place and a foundation upon which to build a habitable city» (§ 143). At the same time, social love—a key to authentic development—«moves us to devise larger strategies to halt environmental degradation and to encourage a “culture of care” which permeates all of society» (§ 231). The theme of the care of the historic, artistic and cultural patrimony for a “human and sustainable city” is traditionally a matter of concern for the appraisal and evaluation disciplines which, starting from the formulation of the “social use value”, have offered a meaningful development of methodological frameworks and innovative approaches. In this perspective and in the light of the significant and audacious reflections which the Holy Father Francis proposes on a possible “theology of the city”, the article seeks to address the issue of finding the necessary resources for the “care” of historic, artistic and cultural patrimony—in Italy diffusely “world heritage sites”—also considering the most recent ministerial initiatives for their valorization. With specific reference to the financial mechanisms and to the fiscal incentives to encourage the support of the private subjects in the conservation activities, if on the side of the public cultural goods, the most recently provisions tries to align Italy to others European countries, on the side of the cultural goods of private property, the question of the incentives is more delicate and complex, as this article will try to highlight.