The thesis Cultural Ills – Unsuggested Itineraries in the Contemporary City critically examines the relationship between institutions, heritage, and living culture in contemporary society, highlighting how the protection of cultural assets in Italy remains strongly focused on the conservation of material historical heritage. Although legal definitions are broad enough to include contemporary practices and intangible heritage, both public perception and cultural policies continue to prioritize what is historical, monumental, and already established. The study explores the dynamics that have slowed the recognition of popular culture, local traditions, and spontaneous urban expressions, showing how these are often perceived as marginal, ephemeral, or even disruptive. This reveals a persistent tension between notions of “order” and “disorder,” between what is deemed worthy of memory and what is excluded or removed. The second part of the thesis considers the city as a symbolic space, where official narratives and everyday practices overlap. By analyzing aesthetic and critical approaches that propose alternative ways of experiencing and interpreting the urban environment, the work advocates for a more dynamic form of cultural protection, capable of engaging with the present. The aim is to valorize the city as a living organism, in which historical heritage and contemporary creativity coexist, fostering new forms of participation.