The article explores how visual markers shape our collective imagination of cities. It shows that people mainly interact with fragments of a city, and in today's digital age, cities exist mostly in our minds. The study identifies different types of visual markers in Russian cities, like natural, symbolic, and architectural elements, which influence how we imagine urban spaces. The research suggests that the way a city is represented can sometimes be more important than its actual physical reality. This understanding can help cities compete for resources and improve their competitiveness.