Tempi e luoghi del turismo

The literature on tourism as a phenomenon capable of radically changing the layout and nature of places is vast and nuanced. The effects of tourism in art cities are a subject of ongoing debate, as these cities experience a progressive deterioration of public spaces and quality of life. On the other hand, the processes of touristification are increasingly affecting areas that were once marginal or less significant, which are similarly transformed. In today’s global context, where tourist flows are more complex and widespread, the times of arrival, transit, or visit—whether contracted or extended—serve not only as interpretative tools for understanding the nature of places, but also as key elements in urban and territorial design. In this framework, tourism, through its new geographies, offers multiple perspectives from which to observe the world. This essay aims to explore, through the relationship between time and space, a social and cultural phenomenon—before it is an economic one—that is among the most significant and transformative of our era.