Faces in Italy

My summer is about far more than language, locations, and art. I meet wonderful new friends who remind me what makes life worth living: connections to other people. Here are just a few.

L'ITALIANI
L'ultimo giorno a Scuola Leonardo da Vinci.

Due baristi di "Barché."

L'internet non sarebbe possibile sensa Federico.

Dmitri! Grazie per i vini buonissimi!

Moreno di "La Bussola." Lui mi chiama sempre "Professore."

I miei amici dalla scuola.

Ashley (front), Julia and Todd, tre Americani.

Kristina di Svizzera.

Sabine di Danimarca! Phil, the FUN Aussie, and Detlef di Germania.

Due sorrisi belli!

The Zanchi Family

La famiglia Zanchi è veramente la mia famiglia Italiana. This wonderful group includes Duccio and Ughetta, husband and wife, and their three sons, Cristoforo (not pictured), Vanni, and Nicolo. Last summer, they saw me in the street from their terrace in Piazza del Campo, and invited me, a total stranger, into their home for The Palio. They welcomed me with openness and sincere interest. I have returned three more times to their home. On each occasion, the depth of their generosity touches me, most recently at the July 2007 Palio.

Our first encounter in August 2006.

VANNI 2007

NICOLO 2007

UGHETTA, 2007

NICOLO, UGHETTA, DUCCIO 2007

Il Palio

On the day of the race (il corso), 50,000 people gather in Piazza del Campo to watch this three lap, ninety second event. If you're lucky, you get a great seat. Yet again the Zanchi family invited me into their home to watch from their terrace. This year I also arrived early enough to see the behind the scenes lineup of the historic parade, which happens immediately outside the front door of the Zanchi's home.

BACKSTAGE at IL PALIO

PHOTO FINISH!

Il Palio: l'assegnazione dei cavalli

The 10 contradas running the "horse race" in Piazza del Campo known as "Il Palio," receive their horses in a lottery. It is HIGH drama! At this point, all members of the contradas know which are the best horses! The excitement builds as members of the contradas gather, sing and chant. This is more than a race. It is the social glue that holds this small city together and fosters such civic pride. Witness that participants range from small children to older folks. The tears you see here are almost exclusively tears of joy at the annoucement of a great horse.

Lucca, Yet Again

I love this small city, the birthplace and home of Puccini. Having visited once already at the end of the afternoon, I really wanted to experience it in the early morning light without tourists. I arrived late in the evening and found a full moon hanging over the city.

La mattina dopo sono arrivato, mi sono alzato alle cingue e mezzo per fare le fotos! Translation: the morning after I arrived, I got up at 5:30 a.m. to photograph the city. What follows shows the city awakening to the day. It is worth noting that Piazza Anfiteatro was built on the foundations of a Roman amphitheatre--thus its unique configuration!