Star formation processes in Nearby Galaxies

The new available observational facilities allow now studies of star formation processes in nearby galaxies with the level of details so far available only for star forming regions of the Galaxy. The statistical study of the properties of giant molecular clouds in different environments are now possible. I will review the current status of these studies, and present recent ALMA observations of a nearby galaxy NGC3627. ALMA observations allow the study of giant molecular clouds properties in the different environments (arms, inter-arms, bar, bar end regions) observable in this galaxies.