The paper proposes an approach to comparative and interdisciplinary historical analysis on the «Città nuove» (new towns) founded in the territories of the Spanish kingdom between 16th and 17th century. The phenomenon of the new settlements characterised European urban history from the late Middle Ages, being particularly relevant at the beginning of the Modern Age in Sicily and in the colonies of the New World, in terms of characteristics and the high number of settlements. Consequently, the paper focuses on various issues in these two areas, as they seem to present useful features for future comparative analysis.
Keywords: New towns, spanish dominions, comparative historical analysis, Sicily, new world.