RURAL LANDSCAPES OF THE 20TH CENTURY: FROM KNOWLEDGE TO PRESERVATION

During the 20^th Century, rural landscapes underwent rapid transformations as a result – among many factors – of mechanization of agriculture and the introduction of new means of transportation: rural territories, indeed, started being signed by new railway lines and agro-industrial facilities, necessary for the storage and distribution of an increasing amount of agricultural products. This is particularly evident in Europe for the landscapes of grain production, as well as in North and South America. A recent research by the author about the grain silos built in Italy under the Fascist regime set the basis for an in-depth analysis of grain production landscapes in Italy during the first half of the 20^th century, also in comparison with the European and American contexts. To this aim, survey and representation of landscape settings become crucial, for the interpretation assessment of significance of these still underestimated cultural landscapes. Therefore, the aim of this contribution is to propose a methodology for the knowledge and preservation of 20^th Century grain landscapes – and their built heritage – choosing as case studies the grain silos built in Tuscany during the 1930s.