Identifying specific criteria for a better site representation and tourism development strategy is a core activity. One of the crucial tasks is enhancing the value of urban cultural heritage through specific actions and, above all, improving the city attractiveness through the complex value of its places. Another interesting aspect is trying to understand how tourists, citizens, entrepreneurs and stakeholders approach these values. The aim could be achieved through a theoretical framework that will provide the criteria for better representation, development and attractiveness of cities starting from their cultural heritage.

DCBBA belongs to the Faculty of Architecture, University of Naples Federico II and is a member of the Pole of Sciences and Technologies.
DCBBA has a unique institutional task within Federico II University: the conservation of cultural, architectural and environmental heritage. Professors and researchers working in the Department share a common research objective, the promotion of sustainable development principles through integrated conservation.
Their expertise covers different scientific fields linked to urban, architectural and environmental sustainability for the integrated conservation of cultural heritage. On this subject the Department has activated a Ph.D. research course on ‘Evaluation Methods for the Integrated Conservation of Architectural, Urban and Environmental Heritage’, which is unparalleled in Italy for its thematic articulation focusing on a multidimensional approach to conservation sustainability.

Four main thematic fields of research and activity can be identified:
- historical-critical knowledge of cultural heritage and architectural / urban restoration;
- sustainable architectural and urban design;
- urban planning for sustainable development;
- assessment and evaluation.

Since 1999 DCBBA has been involved in a number of projects developed for international, European, national, regional and/or local authorities:
- “Urban Integration Policies and Transnational Migration”, a research initiative contributing to the debate at the World Urban Forum 2, Barcelona, September 2004
- “Elaboration of a model for Territorial Impact Assessment”
- “Feasibility Study of the Regional Network of Incubators in ITC
- “Leonardo da Vinci Program: Skills and Competencies Development in Local Agenda 21 Process” (I/01/B/C/PP-120592)
- “Real Estate Market, Innovation and Urban Registers Management”
- “Urban and Environmental Rehabilitation: Integrated Evaluations for Sustainable Development”

University of Naples ‘Federico II’
Department of Conservation of Architectural and Environmental Assets
Via Roma, 402
80132 Naples
Italy
Phone: 0039.0812538664
Fax: 0039.0812538649
E-mail: girard@unina.it
E-mail: isalzano@unina.it