The  paper focuses on the study of the multiple impacts  that the digital economy, which  is expanding rapidly today, has 

and may have in the future on  territories, with a particular focus  on the Italian context and on the  implementation of Data Centers  (DCs), a facilities used for the  remote storage, processing, or  distribution of large amounts of  data. 

In this context, there is a pressing  need for in-depth research and  multifaceted discourse on the  urban and regional challenges of DCs location to enhance public knowledge and informed decision-making processes. This encompasses both the physical impact on territories and the implications for urban governance and socioeconomic aspects. This issue is of particular urgency in Italy. As the country emerges as a significant player in the European DC landscape, the absence of clear regulations gives rise to questions concerning the territorial and strategic planning of these infrastructures.