«Una vera e non museografica conversazione di monumenti e di ambienti»: Guido Di Stefano e l’«azione urbanistica» nella Palermo del secondo dopoguerra

This article investigates the writings, teaching activities and cultural networks of the Sicilian art and architecturalhistorian Guido Di Stefano (1906-62). By focussing on his travels to Germany and his contacts to Austrian (DagobertFrey), German (Wolfgang Krönig) and eminent Italian colleagues (Carlo Ludovico Ragghianti), the author reads DiStefano’s solitary battle against real estate speculation and vandalism in Palermo as well as his involvement in thedrafting of the urban plan after World War II as specific facets of an idea of civilization and political commitmentwhose roots can be identified in Benedetto Croce’s influential philosophical thaught.