The lagoon and the WWI. Memory and inclusive use of the system of forts in the entrenched camp of Mestre (Venice)

The recognition of cultural values of military heritage, through appropriate enhancement actions, can trigger a stimulus effect giving social and economic benefit for the communities, activating the acknowledgement of new values and awareness. The paper describes contents and strategies of the research proposal “The lagoon and the World War I. Memory and inclusive fruition of the entrenched camp in Mestre (Venice)” aimed at developing an enhancement model for the second-generation forts, military batteries and powder magazines composing the defensive network constructed between 1907 and 1912 at strategic points of the Venetian mainland, consisting of Fort Rossarol, Fort Poerio, Fort Mezzacapo, Polveriera Bazzera, Fort Sirtori, Fort Cosenz and Fort Pepe. The research deals with the documentation, cataloguing and cultural promotion of the disused military heritage, connecting the forts through digital and physical routes linked to slow and sustainable mobility, broadening the visitor experience and the understanding of memory places.