Advertisement

Life in Italy: 'How our village kept its sense of community throughout lockdown'

Author thumbnail
Life in Italy: 'How our village kept its sense of community throughout lockdown'

Public spaces are famously central to the Italian way of life - so how did people fare without them during lockdown? Writer Mark Hinshaw describes how his village in Le Marche is keeping community spirit alive in the time of social distancing.

Advertisement

We in Italy are in the process of emerging from two continuous months of being strictly “confined to quarters.”

Most people have paid attention to the guidelines for staying at home, social distancing and wearing gloves and masks when outside. And it has worked, as both the number of virus cases and deaths plummeted to low, pre-lockdown levels.

Today, in mid- May, Italy isn’t even in the top five problematic countries. While parts of the US are only now beginning to see their figures spike upward.  

So we are all ready to re-open. Under new guidelines, we will soon be able to move about the country, see friends and family, shop and visit places as we wish with no special “self-certification” forms. We will even be able to visit other countries in the EU and vice versa.

READ ALSO: 

We will not, however, see visitors from the US and other parts of the world yet. No hordes of tourists will be packing restaurants, queuing up at museums, or surging along the winding lanes of Venice  Which is perhaps for the best. Venice definitely needs a rest.

What has been fascinating to observe is the Italian adaptation to social distancing.

As a culture, Italians love to congregate, eat long meals with friends and family in close conversational proximity, and spend time walking about streets and piazzas in their daily passeggiata. Sitting at tables and slowly sipping prosecco is a major part of the daily routine.

READ ALSO: How to spend 24 hours living the Italian way

Advertisement

So how would Italians behave in this era of personal limitations? Frankly, I was worried that very quickly the restrictions would be ignored.

But that does not appear to be the case.  Certainly in our village where we see behavior every day.

Much has been written about the “Swedish Model” of dealing with the virus. I would like to describe the “Italian Model” of dealing with public space and social separation.

Earlier this week we went out for our own passeggiata . Normally, this consists of a slow, meandering stroll that can take thirty minutes to an hour, depending on how many people we meet and how many impromptu conversations we engage in. This one exceeded an hour.

There are four places in the village where people tend to spend time congregating:

  •   The square by the town gate, flanked by a meat market, a grocery, the post office, and the town bakery.  
  •   The space in the main central street, located between a big coffee bar and a well-known family-owned restaurant.
  •   A similar space between another coffee bar and the town’s community hall.
  •   The broad space in front of a food market at the south end of the main street where notices of live musical performances and local deaths are posted.

Three of these spaces have had people in them, albeit spaced apart. All but a few wore masks. And yet they still greeted each other enthusiastically. They still engaged in animated conversations. And they still clearly enjoyed each other’s company.

Advertisement

As the aged American expat in town, who is within a vulnerable demographic, many people have regularly asked how I am doing. It is a sweet and caring gesture.

On the walk, an open-sided truck was parked n the edge of one of the spaces and was doing a brisk business with its artfully arranged array of vegetables and fruit freshly picked from nearby farms. The proprietor had set up a clear zone using posts and ropes around the truck to keep customers at a distance. You told him what you wanted, he held it up for approval, and dropped it in a sack. A simple but effective accommodation.

MORE LIFE IN ITALY:

Similarly, the fish vending truck that comes in twice a week takes its position in another one of the spaces. The fish are displayed, as always, behind a curved glass case and countertop. And as always, customers stand – albeit separated – and discuss the best selections. Every Tuesday and Friday, this truck appears at 11:30am on the dot. You can hear it coming from a distance due to the announcement of “Pesci! Pesci! …Pesci Oggi!”  (“Fish! Fish! …Fish Today!”) loudly shouted by the driver into a hand-held microphone.

I have been taken by how everyone in the village seems to still be enjoying the public spaces. They are just doing this while being mindful of the safety of others.

Advertisement

This attitude of collective responsibility is what we most noticed when we first arrived. Everyone exhibits a genuine caring for others. It did not take very long for us to be part of a simple social pact – considering the health and welfare of your fellow citizen.

Almost on a daily basis we are reminded of this precious social order -- the willingness to give kindnesses.

One elderly neighbor gives us bottles of cooked wines she makes; we give her help when she needs it. Another person in town hands us fresh eggs from her chickens; my wife hems curtains for her. Just today, our auto mechanic dropped off several pots of mums he saw at a nursery; he had previously overheard my wife say she likes them.

As we continued our walk, passing shops, the owners inside waved and shouted out greetings. People conversed from their balconies and windows.

We always chat briefly with the affable postal carrier and the person delivering food to our door. Despite the physical separation, residents have managed to nurture the sense of community.

The important role of public place has been maintained even though it has been temporarily muted.    

Mark Hinshaw is a retired city planner who moved to Le Marche with his wife two years ago. A former columnist for The Seattle Times, he contributes to journals, books and other publications.

Would you like to write about your life in Italy for The Local? Get in touch.

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

Anonymous 2020/05/21 17:10
Beautiful article. This is what most of us living in the suburbs of America are missing, community. I'm having visions of my dads village outside of Avellino. So much love for neighbors and fish mongers alike!! Thank you for the reminder!
Anonymous 2020/05/21 16:22
We also live in a tiny village in Piemonte (600 residents listed, but many of those actually live in Turin or Milan). I have to agree with Mark's observations on mindfulness, sense of community and flexibility in finding ways to enjoy each other's company. My group of women friends who usually meet for coffee, or aperitivi, or country walks have learned to Skype. Our cafe owner who has remained open as a news stand takes orders for fresh briosche via What's App and we sit, well spaced, at the outside tables to eat them. One neighbor, who was ill but, quarantined at home alone, grocery list to someone heading to the market. Our tiny shop allows one masked, gloved person at a time and the post office is like a surgical quite. But, I hear no whining, no anger, no demanding "freedom". Instead, I hear a lot of "Pazienza!", chuckling about grey roots, plans for "when we can".

See Also