ABSTRACT
Latin America and the Caribbean shape a very large and heterogeneous region of the planet. Socio-territorial dynamics and processes that occur in historical urban centers differ from what happens in developed countries. Based on this, we analyze the historical centers of Latin America and the Caribbean in order to identify the socio-territorial transformations they have undergone in recent decades from a critical perspective that recovers the decolonial view. In particular, we focus on the case of the heritage cities listed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). As a starting point, we question whether the evolution of these places can be explained by phenomena such as degradation, regeneration, gentrification, touristification and patrimonialization or whether there are other forces of capital that determine the value and use of land, the processes of territorial appropriation and the imaginaries of the city. Given the difficulty of delving into all cases, we have decided to focus on some cities that we consider emblematic to illustrate them.
