Rachele Dubbini2018
Situated in the south-eastern suburbs of Rome, between the Via Latina and Via Appia antica, the Caffarella valley forms part of the Appia Antica archaeological park. The constitution of a public park that would include the valley began amidst debates on the creation of the Appia Antica Park in the 1950s. The Caffarella Park was ultimately created in 2005 thanks to the joint efforts of citizens and institutions. However, various important areas have not yet been annexed and are therefore at the mercy of inconsiderate actions by private citizens. In this regard, the future of the Park remains undetermined. This book, which ties into on-going discussions on the need to defend and promote the area, starts by asking some fundamental questions to reflect on the way in which both material and immaterial heritage can be democratically shared in Italy: what was the driving force behind decades of battles to make this space accessible to the public? why is this space so important to society? In what lies its value? To address these issues, the cultural process underlying the development of a collective memory of the Caffarella will be investigated and contrasted with the notion of Antiquity that characterizes this archaeological site. The different meanings attached to the monuments and landscape of the valley over the centuries are analysed in the belief that value can be assigned only to what is recognized. Starting with its ancient roots, the many stories of the Caffarella are told in order to depict the landscapes created by human hands and minds over time.