Archaeological remains within historical centers: the Naumachia at Taormina (Italy). Conservative approach and urban regeneration

In the proposed contribution, this issue is examined through the experience gained by the authors on the so called Naumachie, one of the greatest archaeological remains in the historical center of Taormina (Italy). The original plant of this building dates back to the Greek, but it is mainly a massive Roman building 120 meters long and 7 high, which has taken over time the value of urban lot on which an incessant building activity has developed until today. The ancient structure, probably used as a cistern for water supply during the Roman period, actually acts as the foundations for more recent high-rise buildings. This has caused deep degradation processes of materials and, actually, partially denies the use, causing management problems between public and private sectors. The intervention on Naumachie, for these reasons, requires design choices aimed not only to preserve the artifact, but also looking for a new balance with the urban context. The conservation planning may act as a first step in a broader process, within which to recover archaeological meanings from a perspective of urban regeneration.