GIS methodologies applied on urban landscapes reconstruction from Middle Ages and Modern Age: the example of Santander

Abstract

In this study, we outline the methodological framework employed to reconstruct the urban landscape of Santander from the 20th century back to the end of the Middle Ages. This reconstruction relies predominantly on the georeferencing of historical cartographies, supplemented by archaeological evidence and data from written and bibliographic sources. During the second half of the 18th century, Santander experienced significant urban expansion, primarily through the reclamation of land from the sea. This period of urban development generated extensive cartographic records that are instrumental for reconstructing the city's historical landscapes, both contemporaneous to and preceding the executed works. Georeferencing these historical maps enables a detailed reconstruction of the represented urban spaces. Nonetheless, georeferencing presents challenges when the surviving urban plots differ markedly from those under analysis. The urban fabric of the medieval town underwent substantial alterations in the first half of the 20th century, which drastically transformed its physical appearance. Consequently, our approach necessitates a starting point from this more recent period to effectively reconstruct the earlier urban framework that reflects its medieval origins.