ABSTRACT
Centrality is a key factor in shaping both urban space and urban life. Places that are perceived as central in respect to all others in the system of reference are assigned more value, are easier to reach and are more clearly conceptualized. Apart from such cognitive prominence (ConroyDalton and Zimring, 2003), places can be actually located in a more central position in the system of city spaces: in this case, they exhibit a geographic prominence. The two dimensions of centrality of a place, cognitive and geographic, are strictly interwoven in a complex dance, a subtle balance which plays a crucial role in contributing to the performance of that place in terms of many relevant urban dynamics.
