Walking on the moon searching for heritage recovery. The documentation of Amparo historic centre

The paper presents the survey and documentation of the historic centre of Amparo, in the state of São Paulo (Brazil), developed through the integration of an international research project, an international workshop, and doctoral research on the relationship between historic built and natural environments. The project applied advanced survey methodologies and digital tools to generate new knowledge, support conservation, and promote the cultural reactivation of the historic centre. By integrating digital data acquisition with qualitative documentation, it produced a multilayered representation of the urban fabric, including its architectural, environmental, and intangible values. Set within a hilly landscape where built and natural environments are closely interconnected, Amparo provided an ideal case study for testing interdisciplinary approaches previously developed for European small historic centres. Like many Brazilian historic centres, it faces rapid urban transformations that threaten its cultural identity. In this sense, Amparo symbolises what the moon represented for Astolfo: the need to recover what has been lost in order to restore awareness of the value of preservation and counter the progressive erosion of collective memory.