The target of this paper is to set up a methodological hypothesis for the reading and the identifying of the main characteristic of historical urban landscape. In the present debate on historical centres, a crucial topic is represented by the ways and means of intervention and transformation within historic urban areas. Starting from the opinion that historical centres are live environments, then it is impossible to pursue a total preservation without denying to this same urban areas the possibility of an evolution, the landscape analysis could give a great support to the traditional town planning approach in identifying the basic principles to address transformation and re-qualification interventions. The aim is to determine the visual, semantic, historic and functional references which contribute to define high levels of urban quality and identifying these elements helps making decisions on historical centres transformation.