Cultural Heritage as a Relational Device: Comparing Institutional and Collaborative Models

The article presents a comparative analysis of four significant experiences of cultural heritage management in Italian urban contexts – Pompeii, the historic centre of Naples, the Ex Asilo Filangieri, and the Casa di Vetro – with the aim of exploring how different governance models shape the relationship between heritage and local communities. Through a critical reading grounded in documentary sources, institutional reports and scientific literature, the research compares institutional and collaborative management frameworks, emphasising their diverse social, cultural and economic implications. The analysis reveals that models centred predominantly on conservation and tourism-oriented enhancement often lead to processes of social exclusion, touristification, and the gradual marginalisation of local residents. By contrast, collaborative and participatory governance practices demonstrate the capacity of heritage to act as a catalyst for social innovation, activating networks of proximity, mutualistic economies, and inclusive forms of cultural citizenship rooted in shared responsibility. These experiences highlight the potential of co-managed heritage to function as a living infrastructure that sustains civic engagement and fosters urban resilience. The article ultimately argues for transcending the traditional opposition between protection and participation through adaptive and context-sensitive forms of co-governance, capable of integrating conservation priorities with social inclusion and cultural creativity. In doing so, cultural heritage can recover its relational and transformative role, becoming an active component of urban regeneration and a key driver for the sustainable development of local communities.