This captivating text deals with the formation of cities in Europe from the 10th century to the present, searching for elements that remain particularly "European" within them. The author realizes his admittedly ambitious project through a broad comparative study and arrives at a compelling concluding judgment: that our urban tradition has been based on complexity, imperfection, and adherence to the values of everyday life; as for our monuments, they are not isolated from the cities, but appear in communal spaces, which they adorn and enrich with their facades.

A magical historical journey through cities, capitals, squares, and suburbs, through makeshift architectural solutions and urban systems, leading us to pose a timely and fundamental question for our European culture: Is it possible to create cities different from today's, where we would live our lives even better?