This study aims at examining the relationship between geographical space and perception through a multidisciplinary approach that integrates historical geography, perception psychology, and the analysis of literary and iconographic sources. The objective is to reconstruct the historical representation of a city and to understand its evolution over the long term, highlighting the relationship between urban transformation, collective perception, and local identity. The case study presented is Livorno. From a methodological perspective, the research is based on a documentary analysis encompassing textual and iconographic sources produced between the 17th and 20th centuries. The written sources include travel diaries, travelogues, tourist guides, and literary works, analyzed in relation to their historical and cultural context. In parallel, visual sources, such as urban views, paintings, and engravings, have been examined in order to identify the construction of visual perception in urban and territorial space. The analysis is based on a comparative approach aimed at identifying continuities and discontinuities in the representations of the city and highlighting the role of perceptual variables in shaping the urban imaginary. The study demonstrates how the perception of urban space has been influenced not only by the structural characteristics of the local community and the economic role of the city but also by the cultural and social transformations of the periods under consideration.
Il presente studio analizza la relazione tra spazio geografico e percezione attraverso un approccio multidisciplinare che integra geografia storica, psicologia della percezione e analisi delle fonti letterarie ed iconografiche. L’obiettivo è ricostruire la rappresentazione storica di una città e comprenderne l’evoluzione nel lungo periodo, mettendo in evidenza il rapporto tra trasformazioni urbanistiche, percezione collettiva e identità locale. Il caso studio presentato è Livorno. Dal punto di vista metodologico, l’indagine si basa su un’analisi documentaria che comprende fonti testuali e figurative prodotte tra il XVII e il XX secolo. Le fonti scritte includono diari di viaggio, resoconti odeporici, guide turistiche e opere letterarie, analizzate in relazione al contesto storico e culturale di produzione. Parallelamente, le fonti visive – vedute urbane, dipinti e incisioni – sono state studiate per individuare la costruzione della percezione visiva dello spazio urbano e territoriale. L’analisi segue un approccio comparativo, volto ad individuare continuità e discontinuità nelle rappresentazioni della città e a evidenziare il ruolo delle variabili percettive nella formazione dell’immaginario urbano. L’indagine mostra come la percezione dello spazio urbano sia stata condizionata non solo dalle caratteristiche strutturali della collettività locale e dal ruolo economico della città, ma anche dalle trasformazioni culturali e sociali delle epoche considerate.
Sguardi sulla città tra geografia della memoria, storia e percezione urbana: il caso di Livorno
Paolo Rognini
Primo
Conceptualization
;
2025-01-01
Abstract
This study aims at examining the relationship between geographical space and perception through a multidisciplinary approach that integrates historical geography, perception psychology, and the analysis of literary and iconographic sources. The objective is to reconstruct the historical representation of a city and to understand its evolution over the long term, highlighting the relationship between urban transformation, collective perception, and local identity. The case study presented is Livorno. From a methodological perspective, the research is based on a documentary analysis encompassing textual and iconographic sources produced between the 17th and 20th centuries. The written sources include travel diaries, travelogues, tourist guides, and literary works, analyzed in relation to their historical and cultural context. In parallel, visual sources, such as urban views, paintings, and engravings, have been examined in order to identify the construction of visual perception in urban and territorial space. The analysis is based on a comparative approach aimed at identifying continuities and discontinuities in the representations of the city and highlighting the role of perceptual variables in shaping the urban imaginary. The study demonstrates how the perception of urban space has been influenced not only by the structural characteristics of the local community and the economic role of the city but also by the cultural and social transformations of the periods under consideration.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
