Le Scalze is situated in a noble palace (San Giuseppe delle Scalze), originally built in 1619, and later transformed into a convent. In the 1980s, the building was damaged in an earthquake. It was renovated as a cultural centre focused on preventing youth delinquency and drug use. Since 2009, it is led by a network of multidisciplinary and intergenerational associations. It hosts a variety of cultural and sportive activities, involving the local community, and provides a space for social interaction.
The San Giuseppe delle Scalze church was built in 1619 in the city centre of Naples, and was rebuilt by Cosimo Fanzago later during that century. It is located in the historic centre of Naples, which is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. In the 1980s, the building was damaged in an earthquake. After the renovations is became a cultural centre focused on preventing youth delinquency and drug use. Since 2007, it has been used for cultural and social activities by the citizen association ‘Le Scalze’, which uses it as a place for social reconnection and cultural encounters. Naples is known for high gang membership amongst youth. Spaces such as the one provided by the Scalze complex play a key role in enabling poisitive activities for youth and helping families to avoid that their children take part in illegal activities. [2;6]
The aim of the initiative is to get the local community to value its cultural heritage, while also making it available for the community’s use. The initiative engages in the renovation of the complex and facilitates it adaptive reuse. On the site a range of cultural events are hosted, as well as a market for innovative products, and it is home to a musical band with a space for rehearsal. Theatre and circus workshops are provided, as well as guided tours of the complex, after-school activities, exhibitions, conferences, shows, musical projects for social integration, an Italian-language school for foreigners, a neighbourhood carnival, and an independent design market. [1;3;5]
The initiative is led by the ‘Le Scalze’ collective and its day-to-day activities are executed and managed through open democratic principles. There is no specific legal structure in place to support this. The collective is composed of a network of different citizen groups (namely Forum Tarsia, Scalzabanda, Archintorno, MammaMa, Ramblas, Alta Definizione), all aimed at cultural activities and citizen engagement. [1;3;4] Some phases of implementation have had stronger involvement of some actors, for example, during the architectural renovation the group Archintorno was in charge. Archintorno is an architectural NGO that utilized architecture to stimulate community development and citizen empowerment [3].
It is unknown how the initial phase of development has been financed. Nowadays, a small amount of income is generated through rent of the usage of space, the organisations of events and activities, as well as for a guided tours through the complex. [1;4] Teachers, workshop facilitators and others offer their services to the initiative [5]. All revenues are reinvested in organisational activities. [1]
Le Scalze, organisational website, lescalze.org, accessed on 5-10-2021.
Tourism-focused online magazine, cosedinapoli.com/entertainment/san-giuseppe-delle-scalze-a-pontecorvo/, accessed on 5-10-2021.
Website of architectural group in charge of the renovation, www.archintorno.org/projects-items/le-scalze/, accessed on 5-10-2021.
CLIC Project website for the initiative, www.clicproject.eu/clicapp/home/details/3718, accessed on 5-10-2021.
=Scalzabanda (an initiative derived from Le Scalze), organisational website, www.scalzabanda.org/progetto.html, accessed on 5-10-2021.
UNESCO, Historic Centre of Naples, available on whc.unesco.org/en/list/726, accessed on 5-10-2021.