Strengthening Community Bonds Through Shared Heritage Values: The European RESTORY Project

Colavitti, Anna Maria;Floris, Alessio;Onnis, Virginia;Serra, Sergio

2026-01-01

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Abstract

Small and medium-sized communities are undergoing multifaceted decline, driven by demographic contraction, economic restructuring, socio-cultural fragmentation and deterioration of spatial quality. These processes have resulted in the erosion of local knowledge systems, traditional practices and collective memory, weakening the ties between communities and their tangible and intangible heritage. In this context, the European RESTORY project seeks to re-establish emotional and symbolic connections with cultural heritage through the integration of written and oral sources. By reconstructing community narratives, the project supports the reactivation of identity frameworks in contexts marked by marginalisation and socio-economic fragility. Among its case studies is the municipality of Villacidro, where RESTORY collaborates with the Giuseppe Dessì Foundation to valorise the literary and humanistic legacy of the renowned author. Adopting a user-centred, participatory methodology, the project engages local actors in the co-creation of community maps and knowledge-transfer tools aimed at enhancing social cohesion and place attachment. The initiative promotes cultural continuity and sustainable local development by fostering the active involvement of institutions and residents. Ultimately, RESTORY contributes to the preservation and revitalisation of cultural heritage as a strategic asset for resilience, identity reconstitution and inclusive regeneration, reinforcing the link between local communities and their historic, cultural and environmental contexts.