ABSTRACT
Chapter 3 introduces the pilot area with a historical overview of the relevant events and forces that led to the establishment, transformation and growth of three small port towns in northeast Sardinia, specifically Santa Teresa Gallura, La Maddalena and Palau. Here, the unique combination of cultural and natural resources should be credited for the popularity that these seaports have gained worldwide, which made them into one of the most sought-after tourist destinations within the Mediterranean region, following the development of the famous and exclusive Costa Smeralda. The three port towns are chosen as a pilot area since they epitomise the ‘archetypical waterfront’, in that they all share a comparable geography, urban history and development, a close interrelationship with the historic inland region, a municipal city status and a growing population. In addition, their ports operate all year round connecting the towns to one another and to the French island of Corsica, across the Strait of Bonifacio; the port towns’ well-defined urban morphology is the result of their distinct historic settlements, originated from their natural harbours – an elongated inlet for Santa Teresa, a deep cove for La Maddalena and a maritime sanctuary for Palau – and further extension which followed urban patterns and expanding directions determined by the coastal morphology and topography. Most importantly, the recent transformation of their spatial structure and infrastructural network was driven by the socio-economic changes dictated by the tourism industry.
Besides similarities and common traits, each port town features different characteristics reflecting their specific physical context, the history, present-day economy, and strategic planning for further development as well as their impact over the wider region.
