L’ambientazione come pratica di lettura dell’ambiente. Il caso di Porta Palazzo a Torino

Porta Palazzo, an area within the city of Turin, spans part of the districts Circoscrizione 1 (“Centro–Crocetta”) and Circoscrizione 7 (“Aurora–Madonna del Pilone–Vanchiglia”), including the archaeological zone, part of the old town (up to Corso Regina Margherita), the remains of the old village outside the city walls, the Arsenal, the Cottolengo area, the former railway station Cirié–Lanzo, and the large complex of Balôn. Although not representing a “neighbourhood” or a “district” in administrative terms and being characterized by a deeply heterogeneous urban fabric, as well as by a very diversified population, most Turin inhabitants, as well as many national and international touristy and commercial actors perceive this area as unified. Why? What are the elements that make it possible to absorbe such diversity and fragmentation into a uniform image? Or, in semiotic terms, what are the isotopies that allow one to perceive the urban text “Porta Palazzo” as homogeneous and distinguished from its context? The present paper tries to answer these questions through analyzing some of the most relevant fictional representations (setting) referring to Porta Palazzo (environment) and the adaptive practices of individuals and communities that have settled there over time (habitat). Finally, the paper proposes some considerations about the discrepancy between the urban and the administrative levels, on the one hand, and those of the imaginary and signification, on the other.