In-between Europe and the Mediterranean: urban culture and the economic structure of the post-war 'southern city'

Urbanization of land is considered as the expression of the cultural characteristics of human society. But an overall picture of the urban culture in the Mediterranean area has been particularly difficult to construct, as it has experienced many conflicts and intense exchanges from three different continents. The present study proposes a review of the urban culture - city configurations nexus in the post-war southern European cities. Findings reveal that the Mediterranean region results as heterogeneous in some aspects (i.e. spatial forms), but quite similar in others (social dynamics and behaviours). Rejecting a unique model for the 'Mediterranean city' does not imply that there are not common characteristics that urban centres of this region share. The article focuses on the social dynamics of the Mediterranean societies together with the informal economic system, which have played a key role in the development of the region.