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Often the term is applied to a rural or a relatively unspoiled or regenerated place - whereas the very similar term Sense Of Place would tend to be more Domestic , Urbanist , or Suburban in tone. For instance, one could sensibly apply 'sense of place' to an urban high street; noting the Architecture , the width of the Roads and Pavements , the Plantings , the style of the Shop -fronts, the Street Furniture , etc. - but one could not really talk about the 'spirit of place' of such an essentially urban and commercial environment.

The Roman term for spirit of place was Genius Loci , by which it is sometimes still referred. This has often been historically envisaged as a guardian Animal or a small supernatural being ( Puck , Fairy , Elf , etc) or a Ghost . These beliefs have been discarded in the modern world; but a new layer of less-embodied superstition on the subject has arisen around Ley Lines , Feng Shui and suchlike.

The western cultural movements of Romanticism and Neo-romanticism are often deeply concerned with creating cultural forms that 're-enchant the land', in order to establish or re-establish a spirit of place.

Modern Earth Art (sometimes called Environment Art ) artists such as Andy Goldsworthy have explored the contribution of natural/ephemeral sculpture to spirit of place.

Many indigenous and Tribal Cultures around the world are deeply concerned with spirit of place in their Landscape .

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