The quality of public space and tourist specialization phenomena: the historical centers of Florence an Fez

The paper aims to contribute to the knowledge of a phenomenon (observed by urban planning scholars and others for decades) that takes place in the spaces of some peculiar cities: the growing tourist specialization of the historic core of the cities of art (città d’arte) or of historical centers recognized and protected by international organizations like UNESCO. Is interesting a specific focus on the mutation of public space as a consequence of tourist pressure in these urban fabrics: they often possess an exceptional morphological value and a stratified landscape meaning. The changes triggered by tourist pressure also affect other aspects, be they of economic, social, demographic or functional nature: summing up, we are witnessing the progressive specialization of these spaces and their physical separation from the not touristic city. How can we deal with this progressive construction of urban precincts where growing streams of tourists are sent? What are the possible answers, the adaptations, the strategies that must be put in place to attempt to positively direct the energies and resources that come from masses of people wishing to directly access the beauties of this cities, but who by their own number they risk to compromising the same quality of the places they visit? The paper will deal with these topics by comparing the research contexts of Italy (Florence) and Morocco (Fez).