From Thermal City to Well-Being Landscape: A Proposal for the UNESCO Heritage Site of Pineta Park in Montecatini Terme.

This article presents a landscape enhancement proposal for the UNESCO site of Pineta Park in Montecatini Terme, Italy. This experience is framed within the Research-through-Design (RTD) methodology, serving as an opportunity to explore the broader issue of rethinking traditional spa towns in crisis. In particular, the paper defines two research questions, focusing on the role of landscape design in the protection of cultural sites and in the creation of new scenarios and values for highly protected contexts. Referring to the Historic Urban Landscape (HUL) approach, the article examines the need to mediate between conservation requirements and the dynamic evolution of heritage. As a result of this design and research experience, it is argued that landscape design plays a crucial role in establishing an integrated system capable of supporting development strategies for UNESCO cultural sites while ensuring their sustainability.