International and internal migration:challenges and opportunities in Europe. Titolo intervento. Muslim immigration:how urban spaces in Italian cities change

Muslim immigration: how change urban spaces in Italian cities Migration flows from Islamic countries into Italy are already evident starting from the 80s, characterized by a strong male presence in search of work, coming first from the Arab countries (especially Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia) and in a second phase, among the the 90s and two thousand, from those in Asia (Bangladesh and Pakistan in the first place) and Europeans (Albania and Bosnia). Initially, Muslim workers settled mostly in the northern regions, as labor for small and medium-sized industries. Subsequently, the Islamic presence has gradually stabilized, thanks also to family reunification, and currently stands at around two and a half million people (both foreigners and Italian citizenship). The Islamic communities, initially composed mainly of immigrants, then began to settle in the peripheral areas of the city, due to the low cost of the rentals. Subsequently, over the years, in the neighbourhoods / areas of greater Muslim "concentration", several 'spontaneous' places of worship and a whole series of activities (ethnic shops, cultural centers, etc.) arose which in fact transformed some social-urban traits of cities. The case of Rome is exemplary, where there are about 140,000 Muslims and 5% of all residents in the capital, but half of whom are concentrated in three municipalities (I, V and VI), in which there are urban areas that over time have seen a series of changes to their urban spaces.