metropolitana

Metropolitana is a term used in Italian and Spanish to describe concepts linked to a metropolis, including its urban region and related infrastructures. In Italian, la metropolitana can refer to both the idea of a metropolitan area and to a subway or rapid transit system in a city, for example la metropolitana di Roma or la metropolitana di Milano. In Spanish-speaking contexts, área metropolitana denotes the metropolitan region, while la metropolitana or metro refers to the subway network that serves that area.

As a geographic concept, the metropolitan area or área metropolitana encompasses the core city and surrounding municipalities that are socially, economically, and functionally integrated. Metropolitan areas are typically defined by commuting patterns, population density, and coordinated infrastructure and services, and they often have a form of metropolitan governance, such as a council or authority, to manage cross-boundary needs.

In transportation, metropolitana commonly describes a metro or rapid transit system. Such networks provide high-capacity, grade-separated service within urban cores and extending into suburbs, and are integrated with other modes such as buses, trams, and regional rail. The term also appears in official names of networks in several countries' cities, reflecting their central role in urban mobility.

Etymology: metropolitan derives from the Greek metropolis, from métēr plus pólis, literally "mother city," via Latin and Romance languages. The term emphasizes both the city and its wider urban influence.