Cholera Morbus and Urban Health Policy in the 19th Century Mediterranean: The Health Emergency and Urban Planning Measures Taken in 1837 by the Catania Authorities Focusing on the Sailors' District

This paper studies the political conflict between the municipal government of Catania and the Intendenza (Provincial Council) on approving health projects to revive the 'unhealthy' Sailor's District (Civita) from the 1837 cholera emergency. So, before managing the project's finances, the local city planning and provincial authorities subverted the project type by approving some interventions that looked more like urban reorganisation rather than anything for health improvement. Consequently, this research focuses on how the conflicts and tensions created by the city administration ultimately hindered recovery from the health emergency and failed to safeguard the population of the district.