Conservare per ricordare. I fortini della seconda guerra mondiale – l’utilità dell’inutile nel paesaggio costiero della Sardegna

The coastal landscape of Sardinia is characterized by the presence of the watchtowers in use until 1842. These architectures embellish the coastline, providing an interesting repertoire that exists in perfect harmony with the landscape thanks to forms, construction techniques, and materials that bring to mind the nuragic towers, the undisputed symbol of Sardinia. The same landscape often exhibits, in close proximity to these architectures, the defense structures built during World War II; monolithic bunkers which, in contrast to the imposing watchtowers, lie hidden in the landscape that hosts them and of which they have become part. Abandoned to the fury of the elements along the sandy coasts, they recall a recent past/present, and serve as a memoire for that which should not happen again. This paper presents a preliminary survey that aims to increase the knowledge and highlight the historical-cultural and landscape value of these objects; today mostly useless, but highly useful to keep the memory of that war alive.