Contemporary waterfront developments represent a challenge for designers as the decline of

traditional maritime commerce, once the very reason for the prosperity of a city on water, has
made former docklands land and brownfields available.
Urban rivers, punctuated by neglected loading docks and their associated industrial warehouses
and factories can now make those spaces available for the regeneration of the city on water as
a whole.

As mass tourism increased rapidly, the exploitation of land for tourism related uses has brought
wide economic benefits to the local communities, however it is considered responsible of
environmental and urban alterations to the coastal habitat and tensions arise between the
economic growth and the protection of unique historical and architectural heritage.

This paper will examine urban river restoration efforts across the Mediterranean, presenting the
unique case study of a small ancient river town in Sardinia: Bosa.
Bosa is the only river side town in Sardinia, situated on a small hill on the north-western coast of
the island, about 3 kilometres inland on the north bank of the river Temo, the only navigable
river in Sardinia since ancient times.

Its Phoenician origin is proven by the inscription BN’S - the people of Bosa - engraved on a
stele found in the 19th century and dated back to 9th century b.C., and by its position along the
river Temo which resembles some Phoenician settlements in Andalusia and in other parts of
Sardinia. It was then a ​Roman Municipium​ and a provincial capital as part of the ​Giudicato di
Logudoro​ in the Middle Ages.

Due to pirate raids in the XII century, the original riverside settlement was gradually abandoned
and a new settlement was built around the castle of ​Malaspina​ on the hill, which corresponds to
the present city centre.

A major change to the coastline occurred when the people of Bosa in 1528 obstructed the
mouth of the river with stones to impede the passage of the French fleet. This started the
economical and urban decadence of the city. The inner water became stagnant and caused
malaria epidemics, the river port became rarely accessible, the delta of the river was filled up
and turned forever into an estuary. Due to the small mouth of the river, ruinous floods became
frequent when the rain poured and the strong Mistral wind blocked the regular flow of water.
It was only in the 19th century that the city became a Provincial Capital and its economy
expanded again. The tannery industry was established with its proud architecture mirrored in
the water and the city developed again towards the river as a new port was built on its left side.

Bosa has been moving along its river over the centuries and its urban history offers a unique
inspiration for further investigation. The answer could possibly be found in the role that the town
has always played in this part of the Mediterranean as the only river town in Sardinia.