City and University. Relationships, connections and new development opportunities

Abstract

The presence of the university in cities has a strong impact on the dynamics of social and physical regeneration of settlement systems and for these reasons it is essential to establish a synergic dialogue with all the subjects operating in the territory. In this study the focus is on the University in Agrigento. The city, from the time of the establishment of the University Territorial Polo to today, has invested a lot in terms of social and economic capital and has gone through important stages that should be remembered as cornerstones of the growth of the Agrigento area. The survey carried out contains some reflections on the relationship between the city - “Italian Capital of Culture” in 2025 - and the University, in order to propose the best urban practices essential to face future challenges and new development opportunities.