THE SENSE OF HERITAGE PLACE. THE CASE OF THE HISTORIC CENTER OF TEPIC, NAYARIT, MEXICO

Abstract

Since their beginnings historic centers have experienced profound mutations which, although they have not solved the problems of deterioration, have constructed renewed collective representations. Consequently, this article delves into the daily link that people establish with the historic center, while at the same time clarifying the urban referent and guiding components of the tours and narratives, in order to understand the meaning given to the place as a heritage site.

To account for the above, the case of the historic center of the city of Tepic was taken, where forty-four actors belonging to nine social groups were interviewed. The information obtained was analyzed in the ATLAS.ti 9 program, which made it possible to detect the referential urban elements of the historic center for the people, among which are specific places that were mapped in the ArcGis 10.4.1 program.

The sense of heritage place of the historic center recognizes a wide spectrum of urban elements, where the dynamics socially recognized as proper to the place stand out. Likewise, the concrete places referred to by people structure the urban space according to hierarchy, and establish distinctions between what is good or bad seen, thus conditioning the linking of people with their surroundings.