The Accessibility of Archaeological Areas in Urban Contexts: The Valorisation of the Archaeological Areas of San Giorgio and Castello San Pietro in the Wake of the I-Access Project

The I-Access project, developed for the historic centres of Palermo and Valletta (Malta), has made it possible to verify a method for the regeneration of the two historic centres, with the aim of improving both physical and cultural accessibility of the heritage. It is now necessary to enlarge the range of action of the project, also including another type of heritage, that of archaeological areas in an urban setting. In particular, the reference is to the case of the archaeological areas of San Giorgio and Castello San Pietro, located in an extended archaeological area in the historic centre of Palermo. These areas today are abandoned, fenced and inaccessible, despite being fundamental elements for the knowledge and understanding of the evolutionary history of the city. It is possible to carry out a valorisation project, with the aim of full accessibility, by implementing the methodology already tested and by using a more structured and adaptable approach to an extended and complex heritage, as already done in other experiences taken as a reference and cited in this paper, which also helps in the objectification of the results. An approach borrowed in part from the technological area and in part from the valuation disciplines. In particular, reference is made to the application of precise multi-criteria analysis, therefore to the systematic collection of data on the basis of objective criteria, which in the design phase allow us to understand at the same time the criticalities and strengths in support of the valorisation project, in subsequently, they allow the quality control of the project itself (both on a territorial and architectural scale) and, finally, they allow a continuous monitoring of the conditions of usability of the site, according to principles that respond to the so-called “planned conservation”.