The interception of the spirit of time predates the rethinking of the city. There is an overlap between the late modern (declining) and post-modern (expanding). Post-modern has produced anthropological mutation, changed the valorical and behavioural horizons of the last man, replacing ephemeral references to the conovernight foundations of the late modern. The current scenario has changed the relationship with the past, in particular with the urban context. It is therefore meaningless to rethink the city on the basis of the “already seen”; awareness of what we have become requires, rather, to combine the values deemed irrebuttable with the articles of association of the mutation. In globalisation, the city has been returned to those living there. The market took over the plan; by intervening for ‘fragments’, he replicates the framework of values. In the architectural experience, on the other hand, a linguistic revolution has taken place. The ‘hybris’ promoted, in reality, by the market/virtuality mix – deemed to be irresistible to yesterday – has been humiliated by the current crisis. The question in the city is whether the crisis can be an opportunity to correct irresponsible meratism and virtual arbitrariness. The reason for this is to “listen” to indications of further transformation “into promes”, otherwise it calls for “leaving history to take place and nothing more”.