The Italian National Institute of Statistics estimates that there are between 1 and 2 million abandoned buildings in Italy, 6 percent of all state real estate is heading for ruin. These include more than 50,000 former historic palaces and former noble castles; 20,000 disused former church buildings, churches, abbeys, and convents.

Regenerating public heritage contemplates three different strategies: that the property be alienated and sold, that the public finance and undertake the regeneration, and that the regeneration be done in agreement with a private institution.

The importance of heritage regeneration is related to the beneficial effects that are produced in the community that reappropriates urban spaces, with visible improvements in the social, economic, and environmental spheres. Moreover, recent developments in European and national policies consider cultural heritage as a common good and a key element for sustainable development and social innovation. To make the most of this potential of cultural heritage, member states are invited to promote participatory enhancement processes based on cooperation between public institutions, citizens, associations, etc.. The involvement of local communities, in fact, increases the awareness of cultural heritage as the ability of citizens and stakeholders to recognize their identity in it and actively collaborate for its preservation.

The case that we analysed concerns the process of reuse for cultural purposes of the former Monastero del Carmine, a complex structure of particular historical and architectural value located in the historical center of the city of Bergamo (Italy).

Built starting from the second half of the 14th century, the former Monastery experienced a long phase of decay and abandonment from the 18th century until the second half of the 20th century when, with the transfer of ownership to the municipal administration, some structural and functional recovery works were started. In the gradual reuse of this important place for the city, the theatre company of the Teatro Tascabile of Bergamo - Accademia delle Forme Sceniche (TTB) played a significant role.

In 2018, TTB and the Municipality of Bergamo signed a Special Public Private Partnership (SPPP) from which the Monastero del Carmine began a process of regeneration that is not only material, but also immaterial. Therefore, the objective of this communication is to illustrate the importance of regeneration of abandoned historical heritage, not only in order not to lose the material real estate value, but especially by enhancing the relationships that this process can establish with the city and the community.