Building on our losses: principles and methodologies of virtual restoration applied to Rome’s historic centre

The historical research – thanks to the archival, cartographic and documentary sources – allows to critically observe the urban transformations and reveal, recognize and so transmit the values of past cityscapes. The introduction of new information and communication technologies (ICT) relating to the historical cultural heritage gives the possibility to integrate the traditional investigations with new dynamics of study and to propose very useful solutions in the various stages of the work itself. In particular, the instruments currently available give the opportunity to express and represent the outcome of the research through innovative ways which can be used to improve the awareness of places and to transmit their meanings through explicit forms of representation. The current essay introduces some applications of virtual rehabilitation carried out in the historical center of Rome, by specifying the historical-analytical reconstruction methodology and the “principles of authenticity” followed to ensure scientific reliability to the work.