The territorial framework of river courses: a new methodology in evolving perspectives

This paper focuses on the importance of watercourses, on the presence of historical, naturalistic and environmental factors and on the necessary requirements to be strongly considered in planning tools that involve spatial development processes. The theoretical approach to this topic is then experimented on the case of the Tiber River in a particularly critical area of its course, which falls within the province of Rome. In order to overcome the complex difficulties that the river encounters along its path, the creation of a River Contract is conceived, as an innovative tool for the development of the river territory as a public space. The main issue of this article is to expose a methodology developed for the definition of landscape quality aims: it is mainly aimed at strengthening the idea that the River Contract could be an implementation stage of the Landscape Plan. The River Contract can play an important role in development strategies in Inner Areas and at the same time be an effective tool for recovering identity values. Effort was concentrated on the production of a territorial survey matrix that could be exploited by Local Authorities with the spirit of including the needs of the inhabitants.