Much of the current debate on how we should preserve our cultural heritage revolves around urban sites, historic districts, historical towns, but especially in the historical core of the big cities. Old cities conservation are much more difficult than the restoration of individual historical monuments, not only because of the quantity of physical structures to be rehabilitated, but mainly because cities are living organisms, with a complexity of human and functional, social and economical aspects. The cultural urban heritage is not made of built entities only. It may encompass crafts, art works, traditional trade and religious activities and may be intangible: a diversified population that is sometimes fragile often ill known inhabits old cities. All this complexity contributes to the peculiarity of historical old cities as a whole. The central question of the debate is: are there any actual examples from urban heritage sites worldwide to demonstrate key issues and best practices in the integrated conservation of the urban heritage of historical cities' core and their urban historic landscape today?
The book offers a comprehensive overview of the intellectual development in urban conservation in the 21 century on the basis of the evolution and operational context of urban management and the development of local urban conservation policies and practices by ICOMOS (International Council of Monuments and Sites) "experts".
The book collects the papers presented at the International Symposium of the ICOMOS - CIVVIH (International Scientific Committee in Historical Towns and Villages) in Naples in the September 2012 and focus on the integrated conservation and on the managing of urban historical landscape heritage through case histories of good practices in different countries of the world. In this way we have the possibility to study the creativity in the safeguard and rehabilitation of the historical towns and what an opportunity cultural tourism is for the historical towns sustainable development.

Teresa Colletta Associate professor of Urban History at University of Naples "Federico II", Vice-president of ICOMOS Scientific Committee of CIVVIH and General Secretary of ICOMOS Italy. Since 1987 is scientific responsible of the review Storia dell'Urbanistica/Campania. Since 1998 is Correspondent for the "Evaluation Report" of UNESCO-"W.H.L". She is autor more than 150 publications. The most significant: Piazzeforti di Napoli e Sicilia (1981); Atlanti di città del Cinquecento (1984); Napoli. La cartografia pre-catastale (1985); Capri. Atlante storico delle città italiane (1990); Napoli città portuale e mercantile. La città bassa il porto ed il mercato (2006); Città portuali del Mediterraneo. I luoghi dello scambio commerciale e le colonie dei mercanti stranieri (ed. by) (2012); Città storiche e turismo culturale (2013).