IL BENE CULTURALE: L’IDENTIFICAZIONE E LA TUTELA, PROBLEMI QUALITATIVI E QUANTITATIVI

At its origin the tutelage was based on the detection of objects that werewitness to fundamental events in history, exemplary for characterizing the past; restauration was the instrument for their conservation, but it was also used to recuperate theiroriginal sense, cancelling any tampering, and closing the gaps. The expansion of cognitive interests, from great events to common life data and material culture, the consciousness of the relativity of the results of historiographical investigation and the subjunctive character of aesthetic judgement, the fact that every event or object has multiple meanings and therefore its relevance depends on the relation system in which itfound, has lead to the consideration that all of civilization’s documents are worthy ofinterest and finally all of that has the potential of creating a cultural experience. In thissense, “cultural heritage†is not a collection of items quantifiable in numbers, nor inparticular categories of objects; it is a value that depends on the “itemsâ€, but especiallyon the rapport that is established, under variable circumstances, between the items andpeople. The parameters of evaluation that lead to a choice of either conservation ordestruction derive from the recognition of possibility or impossibility, the assessmentsconcerning vital demands, and therefore these parameters are found on an ethical level. Tutelage must be exercised preventively where political decisions are made that determine the operating conditions, and only subsequently as intervention. Finally, a fundamental role must be given to the production and exchange of intangible goods in theeconomy, among these, in the forefront, cultural services.