La rappresentazione dell’Indice composito di Fragilità dei Borghi d’Abruzzo, fra “ragione e sentimento”.

The primary objective of this research is to experiment with infographic representation methods as effective tools for communicating the informational complexity associated with the phenomenon of depopulation in the small municipalities of inland Abruzzo. This geographical area, long affected by a steady demographic decline and a significant erosion of public servicesfurther accelerated by the 2009 earthquakepresents an urgent need to document and promote a territorial and cultural heritage at risk. In this context, small towns are acknowledged as playing a key role in safeguarding both the tangible and intangible heritage of the region. The use of infographics is proposed as a means to render visible and accessible, in particular, the so-called Composite Index of Municipal Fragility – a multidimensional indicator that synthesizes social, economic, demographic, and terri- torial factors. Through immediate and interpretative visualizations, the aim is to provide an at-a-glance understanding of the fragility affecting these municipalities, thereby raising awareness among citizens, policymakers, and researchers about the vulnerabilities characterizing inner areas. This work thus offers a methodological reflection on the use of graphic language to investigate and narrate depopulation, encouraging new forms of understanding and intervention.