Have you ever wondered how the Italian culture is? How is the Italian culture different than the American culture? The answer to both of these questions can be found in most of the piazzas that Rome, Italy has to offer. A piazza is basically a center of the town or area that has an object in the middle (such as a fountain or obelisk) with businesses and restaurants around the center. In fact, the Roman piazzas offer a lens toward Italian culture by providing a place for merchants, artists, relaxation, recreation, and communication between family and friends.
Whether a person is visiting the piazza at night or during the day, they are almost always going to see artists and merchants at work in the center. Take Piazza Navona for example, when visiting that in the day merchants have stands up selling goods and paintings. Musicians also are in the center by the Bernini fountain providing entertainment for the enjoyment of the tourists and locals. Another example is the piazza at Campo de’ Fiori. During the day there is a great market of local fruits and food, but at night the piazza offers great street bands and music from local bars.
Another way that the piazzas offer a lens into Italian culture is through providing a place for relaxation, recreation, and communication between family and friends. When the day begins to wind down, the piazza seems to change in ways that are indescribable. Around dinner times, the restaurants that are located around the piazzas begin to fill up with customers. If anyone would just sit back and take the time to watch the people at the restaurants, they would notice that the Italians are in no rush to leave the restaurants. After eating, Italians take their time to enjoy the company of their friends. The piazza at this time is a place where people continue to talk and just relax under a clear sky with the best summer weather anyone could ask for. Then, when the adults are relaxing the children play in the center of the piazzas usually by kicking a ball around to each other.
The piazzas could be a great way to view Italian culture. If anyone is just interested in viewing what their culture is then I suggest they just go sit at the bar that is located in the piazza. When sitting I suggest they watch everyone having fun and enjoying what the Italians have to offer. The experience of the Piazzas at night is by far the best in my opinion. It is so enjoyable to just see people enjoying life and the weather that they are granted with!
Dustin, it seems like the piazzas allow tourists and locals to interact together - both enjoying the time they were granted in Italy.
ReplyDeleteIf every road leads to Rome, and every Roman road leads to a piazza, then maybe these are meeting places for the world. There is something universally inviting about piazzas. Do you think that is just the Italian culture? Or is it the character of the piazzas themselves?