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The Third Management Plan of the Historic Centre of Florence
The Management Plans

Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA)

 

Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) is an assessment methodology based on the indications of the Guidance on Heritage Impact Assessments for Cultural World Heritage Properties of ICOMOS International (2011). It aims at assessing, in a systematic and coherent way, the positive/negative effect of one or more transformation projects affecting values, attributes, authenticity and integrity of World Heritage sites. The assessment is functional to the indication of recommendations and possible mitigation measures to reduce or avoid possible negative impacts on the heritage.

METHODOLOGICAL PROPOSAL

HeRe_Lab – Heritage Research, a joint laboratory between the Florence World Heritage and relations with UNESCO Office of the Municipality of Florence and the University of Florence, has developed an ad hoc HIA for the Historic Centre of Florence World Heritage site, following the same mechanisms and procedures.

 

During the testing phase of the ad hoc HIA model for the site, some interaction and coordination issues between the various stakeholders involved in the development projects of some “transformation areas” have emerged. Therefore, HeRe_Lab has drafted and refined a Preliminary Assessment Model based on the content of the scoping report, which is the main output of the Sccoping phase during the HIA process. This pivoltal tool is suitable to be integrated with the decision-making processes, and with the administrative and technical procedures of the municipal administration as well as of the other competent institutions in the territory.

Steps of the Preliminary Assessment Model

010-procedimento-scoping-eng

The Florence World Heritage Office is in charge with the coordination – in all its procedural stages – of the application of the model. The Office is supported by the expertise of HeRe_Lab for the drafting and compiling of the model. This tool allows to optimize and simplify the assessment procedure of potential impacts as follows:

  • identification of the value and attributes of the Historic Centre of Florence potentially involved in the transformation project
  • participation in the consultative decision-making phase with the stakeholders
  • compilation of the Preliminary Assessment Modelo of the project
  • opinion on transformation with possible introduction of mitigation proposals

Steps for the value and attribute identification process015-attribute-identification

The pubblication “Appunti per un Modello di Indagine Preliminare“, published by HeRe_Lab in September 2019, aims to introduce into the Italian scenario:

  • the procedures, contents and applications of the Heritage Impact Assessment methodology for the sites included in the UNESCO World Heritage List
  • the Florentine experience on Heritage Impact Assessmet.

The project is part of the projects financed in 2018 by the Law 77/2006 of the MiBACT  “Special measures for the protection and use of  Italian sites and elements of cultural, landscape and environmental interest, included in the” World Heritage List “, placed under the protection of UNESCO ”.

FAQ

Why is the Historic Centre of Florence a World Heritage Site?

The Historic Centre of Florence was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1982. The justification for its inscription is contained within the Statement of Outstanding Universal Value, which articulates the criteria for inscription of the site, its integrity, authenticity and the management system for its protection. The Historic Centre of Florence is considered to be a unique artistic achievement embedding museums, churches, palaces and globally renowned cultural goods of inestimable value. The city has also been able to exert an important cultural, economic and architectural influence in Italy and Europe for centuries, defining itself as the birthplace of modern Humanism and Renaissance values. The stratification of these values is also enriched by the relationship between the Historic Centre and the surrounding hills, which form a perfect harmonious backstage.

What is the area of the city of Florence inscribed on the World Heritage List?

The Core Zone inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1982 coincides with the Historic Centre of Florence, traditionally identified with the area included within the avenues corresponding to the ancient circle of the fourteenth-century walls. In 2021, a boundary modification of the perimeter was approved to include the complex of San Miniato al Monte and the surrounding area. The Buffer Zone of the site encompasses the eighteen Belvedere points and includes part of the territories of four municipalities: the Municipality of Florence, the Municipality of Sesto Fiorentino, the Municipality of Fiesole and the Municipality of Bagno a Ripoli.  

What is the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV)?

Cultural and/or natural significance that is so exceptional that it transcends national boundaries and is of common importance to present and future generations of humanity as a whole, constituting the fundamental requirement for the inscription of porperties on the World Heritage List. The properties  deemed to hold Outstanding Universal Value can be included in the World Heritage List if:

  • They satisfy one or more Selection Criteria;
  • They respect the conditions of Integrity and Authenticity;
  • They have an adequate Protection and Management System to ensure their safeguarding
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