Place-Identity and Social Representations of Historic European Capitals: Multi-Year Field Study on First-Visitors from different Eu and non-Eu Countries

This paper illustrates some key results based on a wide multi-year research project focused on place-identity and on social representations of various historical European capitals (Helsinki, Lisbon, London, Madrid, Paris, Rome, Vienna and Warsaw) in 1394 first-visitors from 6 European countries (France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, United Kingdom) and 2 extra-European countries (Japan and United States) recently enriched by new research lines. The results demonstrate the development of place-identity along the life-cycle and the stability of figurative nucleus of social representations of the European capitals anchored into their prototypical and iconic-symbolic elements, as well as the role of direct experience and cultural belonging of first-visitors in differentiating their imagined and experienced places