On one hand, the Carmine borough has always been present in the collective imagination as a symbol of holiness related to the church of “Santa Maria del Carmine”, along with its cloisters and the convent’s layout. On the other hand, this corner represents licentiousness and devotion to transgressive pleasures. These contrasts create a multicoloured location, where people coped with problems such as prostitution and drug dealing.
Since the 1990’s many immigrant populations have settled in this area with their commercial activities. Today the Carmine borough has become a residential area with two important city universities and numerous student residences.