Guiding Architects: Architectural Tours as a Lens to Read Cities

Founded in 1996 by architects active between Barcelona and Berlin, Guiding Architects is a global network that offers architectural walking tours designed to reveal the social, political, and economic forces shaping urban spaces. The network rejects iconic, isolated landmarks in favor of itineraries that connect public spaces, architecture, landscapes, and daily life. Tours are led by architects, urban planners, and architectural historians who live and work in the cities they present. Over the past two years, the network has conducted approximately 2,500 half-day tours, engaging over 1,300 groups and between 25,000 and 30,000 participants. Currently, Guiding Architects comprises 38 active members and 61 destinations across Europe, the Middle East, the Americas, and Australia. In Italy, six destinations—Aosta Valley, Langhe & Monferrato, Milan, Rome, Turin, and Venice—reflect the country's urban and territorial complexity. The network offers both pre-selected itineraries and customized visits for professionals, students, institutions, companies, and culturally curious travelers. The initiative positions architecture as a thread to read histories, economies, and cultures, bridging local and global perspectives.