Traditionally, cities maintained a closer relationship with nature due to their smaller size and lower density. However, with the onset of the industrial age, rapid population growth, the rise of metropolises, and shifts in urban planning aimed at accommodating expansion, nature became increasingly detached from daily urban life. Since then, the need to incorporate nature into cities has emerged not as a completely natural element but as an integral part of urban plans and programmes. Thus, understanding the relationship between contemporary cities and nature, along with an awareness of their historical roots, provides the foundation for making more informed and precise decisions in urban planning and design. This chapter takes a comprehensive approach to exploring the city’s natural layer, aiming to better understand these urban spaces and their interaction with the city. Shiraz, an Iranian city with a long history, has been selected as the case study. Nature is an integral part of this city’s identity, both structurally and culturally. This study employs a socio-spatial analysis to investigate the natural spaces’ structure and dynamic characteristics. Additionally, their role in shaping the city’s identity, structure, and culture is examined by tracing the evolution of various green spaces and natural resources embedded within Shiraz. The role of natural spaces in the chain of urban social life is also examined by categorising them and observing their daily life rhythms. Existing research on urban green spaces often focuses solely on quantitative metrics such as location, distribution, and area or examines the quality of only a few selected cases. In contrast, this study considers nature as a holistic layer. Employing a socio-spatial methodology, it traces the historical layering of natural spaces within the city’s evolution, analyses their socio-cultural relevance in shaping urban character and everyday life, and examines their structural and functional roles across different periods of development. Such insights can inform more deliberate and environmentally conscious urban planning strategies that lead to more sustainable cities. Additionally, the methodology and findings of this study can be applied to investigate the role of green and natural spaces in shaping the character of other cities, allowing for comparative analyses that enhance our understanding of urban–nature relationships across various contexts.