Hidden river: recovering the memory of a city

The Rio Darro represents a fundamental element of the natural and cultural heritage of the city of Granada. With its banks and bridges it has told for centuries both the life and culture of the city by the foundation, which was closely related to the river itself. From the beginning of the 16th century, Granada began to lose its river through a long process of covering that today hide a large part of its path. With the loss of the river, Granada gave up to perpetuate an essential part of its history: how can we restore the memory of the Rio Darro in the XXI century? Starting from an analysis of the transformations relating the historic centre following the covering, the study is based on the reserch of new strategies to return to the city such an important part of its heritage, in order to bring it back to light and show it once again, but above all in order to use it to make things better for the present day city. The recovery of the river therefore entails a urban regeneration of the historic centre, which moves towards a pedestrian fruition of its streets by creating a green walk alongside the banks, limitating vehicle traffic which is nowadays affecting the city. The growth of green areas and the design of pedestrian paths, demonstrate how the rediscovery of this hidden part of the natural, cultural and historic heritage of Granada, the Rio Darro, might be not only the culmination but the tool through which it is possible to plan a modern and sustainable city.