Ischia – The new Regional Landscape Plan for the island of Ischia was officially presented, the result of collaboration between the Campania Region, the Ministry of Culture and local administrations.
The meeting, held at the Diocesan Museum of Ischia Ponte, marked a crucial passage for the urban future of the island, grappling with post-disaster reconstruction and the challenge of requalifying the territory.
Bruno Discepolo, regional councilor for Urban Planning, illustrated the details of the plan, underlining that the new regulatory instrument, awaited for over thirty years, establishes clear rules for the reconstruction and safety of the affected territories, providing operational indications to the Municipalities.
Discepolo highlighted the uniqueness of the plan compared to similar instruments adopted in Italy, thanks to its supra-municipal dimension.
Criticism from mayors: “We risk a total blockade”
While on the one hand the superintendent Mariano Nuzzo defended the plan as an example of “dynamic landscape protection”, which aims to enhance the territory without excessively rigid constraints, the island mayors expressed strong doubts.
According to the mayors, the plan could hinder reconstruction and building development, both public and private. Giosi Ferrandino, mayor of Casamicciola Terme, spoke of an excess of constraints, which had already proven ineffective in the past: "The old plan failed precisely because it was too rigid. If we repeat the same mistake, we cannot expect anything good."
Giacomo Pascale, mayor of Lacco Ameno, agrees and hopes for a synthesis between protection and the possibility of intervention: “If protection means blocking everything, we don’t see any progress”. Irene Iacono, mayor of Serrara Fontana, instead underlined the need for a plan that also takes into account the economic needs of the territory.
Reconstruction and landscape: the knot to be untied
The debate was also sparked by the Extraordinary Commissioner for Reconstruction, Giovanni Legnini, who called for effective coordination between the landscape plan and the reconstruction plan, to avoid regulatory conflicts: "If we block everything, we do not protect, but rather worsen the situation. The landscape quality improves only by allowing targeted interventions of redevelopment and harmonization".
The challenge now will be to find a balance between landscape conservation and territorial development, with a constructive dialogue between institutions and local communities.
Article published on March 28, 2025 - 15pm
