Riorientare i processi di territorializzazione nei territori interni: interazione tra persone e luoghi, auto-narrazione e mappatura di comunità

Abstract

Processes of territorialization are the result of an intricate blend of material and sym- bolic elements, and the narratives constructed around places contribute to defining their communal significance while reshaping development policies that pertain to them. Thus, narratives about inland areas must avoid the risk of re-signification, to which they are often subject, based on a rhetorical notion of "charming" isolation that finds in tourist appeal an easy escape from developmental challenges. To shift the focus on inland and marginal territories away from an approach that con- siders only their touristic appeal—and instead to contribute to the creation of inno- vative models for the development of areas where residing becomes desirable—it is essential to focus on how perceptions are shaped by the narratives associated with these places. This calls for a research approach that is sensitive to spatial dynamics, emotional landscapes, and the social networks embedded within them. This paper presents the action-research experience conducted in an inland Sicilian area, Santo Stefano Quisquina in the Sicanian region, aimed at the co-construction of the "Atlas of Stories and Places," a digital platform for the community’s self-narration. Developed through the direct involvement of local residents, this project employed social mapping as a method to foster collective reflection on people's relationship with their territory.