Notas sobre o processo de construção e destruição do patrimonio edificado do Crato: uma anlise em longa temporalidade (1764-2000)

Abstract

This research aims to investigate, from a historical and long- term perspective, aspects of the process of construction,

decharacterization, and demolition of the built heritage of the historic center of Crato, between the years 1764 and 2000. The temporal framework is justified by the elevation of the Mission of Miranda to the Royal Village of Crato in 1764 and the implementation of Crato's Master Plan in 2000, which brought relevant discussions about the built heritage to the forefront. The goal is to understand the architectural and urban changes that occurred throughout this extended period, examining how the advent of modernization, especially from the mid-20th century onward, influenced the transformation of the urban space and the disfigurement of the city's historical heritage. The research focuses on the continuities and mutations in the built environment, associating them with the actions of different social agents, such as the State, the Church, economic agents, and the intellectual elite, who played crucial roles in urban dynamics over the centuries. The relevance of this study is justified by three factors: (1) the urgent need to conduct a historical and critical analysis of the architectural and urban objects that

make up the urban landscape of Crato, (2) the urgency of addressing the disfigurement of the urban design and architecture of the historic center, identifying the agents involved in this social phenomenon, and (3) the demand to broaden the scope of academic studies on cities located outside major urban centers. The work is structured around several main points that are interconnected, seeking to lay the foundation for understanding the interventions within the proposed temporal scope. The research starts by examining aspects of the construction process of CratoÕs built heritage, both in terms of urban design and architecture, from its foundation as Vila Real in 1764 until the early 20th century; it proceeds with the analysis of the agents shaping the urban configuration, as well as the identification of continuities and ruptures in the space, through retrospective cartographies that already reveal urban transformations. Finally, the destruction of heritage takes center stage in the writing. The analysis, also from a historical perspective, explores various angles of the destructive dynamics. For this, the construction of a theoretical framework is supported by a bibliographical review and the analysis of documentary sources, such as iconography, maps, reports, and periodical archives. The relevance of the study is justified by its contribution to the understanding of Crato's urban development, offering an analysis of the transformations that occurred over more than two centuries of history, from the foundation of a small village to a city with modernizing aspirations, while much of its built heritage was gradually erased by the constant quest for renewal.