Alicudi Landscape and Identity on an island without cars

The Covid-19 pandemic has sparked a debate about various aspects of the city beyond architecture, including its social, economic, and environmental implications. While the city is unlikely to lose its role as one of the most resilient forms of human institutions, the desire to escape is latent in many of us, leading some to seek a more authentic existence outside of urban areas.

This study aims to understand how dwelling on Alicudi, the most remote island in the Aeolian archipelago, shapes people’s perception of the landscape and their own identity. Through interviews with thirty individuals who have chosen to live on this island without cars and with only 100 inhabitants, this study reconstructs a lifestyle characterized by the absence of the city as a technical apparatus.

The interviews reveal how living on Alicudi roots dwelling in the landscape, establishes a different connection with others, and fosters engagement in activities that many have forgotten in urban areas. This contributes to the development of a different self-identity and a greater awareness of the inhabited environment.

Specifically, this study explores how dwelling in a community with limited resources and a strong connection to nature shapes individuals’ sense of identity and their relationship to their environment.

Overall, this study sheds light on an alternative way of life that challenges dominant urban narratives, providing insights into the ways in which different forms of dwelling can impact our relationship with the natural environment and our sense of self.

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