"Comparing the theme of the river landscape with the theme of the metropolitan city expansion identifies issues and relations that need being recognised, assessed and, often, reappraised. Undoubtedly complex issues that can be understood better against a reference background which, as it is commonly agreed today, identifies the river landscape with an important resource for built-up land.

In fact nowadays the river landscape is addressed by all those who, from different perspectives, commit themselves to finding new relations between nature and city. Amongst others, apart from hydraulic engineers and naturalists, architects and landartists too have a say as interpreters of the widespread desire for a better urban liveability."

(from the forewords by Marisa Maffioli)

"This collection of testimonies, considerations, case studies, experiences tries to broaden cognitive horizons, stimulate emulation processes, encourage new experimentations, inform about problems and solutions and stands out as literature aimed to a large number of people willing to show concern for the places where they live

(from the preface by Liliana Bazzanella - Turin Polytechnic)