Il ruolo delle città medie nel sistema urbano italiano e gli impatti potenziali del PNRR

Medium-sized cities constitute the founding structure of the Italian territory. From north to south of the country the urban landscape is characterized by a dense network of medium-sized cities which, from a historical-statistical analysis (starting from the analysis of Zipf's rank-size law), appears extraordinarily constant over time. Indeed, we can observe the growing role played by medium-sized cities in the general Italian urban system, highlighted by the demographic data, which is nothing other than the expression of a series of elements of an extremely complex economic and social nature. Medium- sized Italian cities are also characterized by their highly diversified and specialized profiles where, however, the multi- functional character (not just economic) prevails. The impact of the PNRR on medium-sized cities is potentially very incisive and shows a general great mobilization capacity of these entities in attracting funds and initiating significant urban transition programs. Despite a Plan which, in general, is characterized by the absence of a territorial dimension, local actors active in medium-sized cities have taken this opportunity to renew their respective urban agendas.