Seismic hazard and seismic actions for the design of buildings are strongly influenced by site
response because of significant amplification expected for the specific stratigraphic and topographic conditions.
Different approaches can be applied at the scale of the single building, but in complex morphological and
geological contexts studies at the urban scale can provide relevant informations to be incorportated in the
evaluation. The paper builds on the recent experience of seismic microzonation studies in central Italy in the
aftermaths of the 2016 seismic sequence to provide an insight on the role of studies at different scales. Within
this context, an example is also provided to illustrate recent methodologies that have been conceived to account
for uncertainties in the characterization that affects both geophysical tests in situ and geotechnical tests in the
laboratory for the assessment of the response of soils to cyclic loadings
