Agricultural landscape and historical urban landscape: notes on the case study of Bologna (Italy)

The issue of protection of natural environment, including green spaces within the cities, is becoming increasingly important both in general terms and in relation to the current concerns of Italian cities. These issues are also relevant by a perspective of urban planning history and in relation to the important line of studies dedicated to the history of the agricultural landscape. Agricultural landscape and historical urban landscape can be effectively analysed in integrated perspective, which considers the evolution of Italian cities from the Middle Ages to the late modern history, and the long coexistence of green spaces and built spaces inside the historic cities. These topics are currently linked to the sustainable development of urban suburbs, to the new cultivation systems in urban environment, and to the indispensable interventions – even in urban contexts – of biodiversity safeguard. The authors aim to highlight – also through an iconographic excursus – how the city of Bologna is, in this context, an important case study, which can be analysed in interdisciplinary perspective.