Piazze are places of both rest and beauty. Piazza di Spagna is an example of an area in which people rest, especially next to Bernini's Fontana della Barcaccia. Travelers can fill up their waterbottles at this fountain, and simply rest their aching feet while sitting around it or on the Spanish Steps. Italians practice this rest every day, when they close their shops from about 1:30 to 4:30 for the siesta. This is a cultural practice that involves resting, talking with one's neighbors or friends, and eating. When I think of beauty in piazzas, I can only think of the marvellous Basilica di San Marco and the Clocktower in Venice in Piazza San Marco. I am sure the Italians who live there have no problem with relaxing in the piazza when they have a view of such a gorgeous basilica, the clocktower, and the the ocean. Barzini notes that Italian life is a show; "the first purpose of the show is to make life acceptable" (75). The beauty of their surroundings, especially in public piazze, is meant to balm the ills of human life. Because the Italians incorporate elements of rest and beauty into their piazze, we know that these elements are important to the Italian lifestyle. The piazza is the heart of the Italian way of life.
Every piazza, even the smallest, houses stores that are essential to the life of the town. Castel Gandolfo's main mini-piazza contains a gelateria, a church, and many places to eat lunch, as well as a fountain and beautiful scenery of the pope's summer home. In Piazza Navona, artists make the city come alive with their renderings of famous Italian monuments. The piazza can be just as much of a shopping center as a relaxing, beautiful center. In Piazza della Rotundo, the Pantheon exists as the major attraction, but the piazza would not be the same without the eateries and shopping areas. Italians come together through good food, and they can relax while shopping with friends. Another factor of the piazza is the "open-air" aspect. Since most Italians have small living rooms, Barzini notes, their 'living rooms' are the piazze. Everything that an Italian needs to have a pleasant afternoon is located in this open-air public space. The piazze as the supplier of everyday needs tells us that Italians are very comfortable living among others.
The piazze is a lens for Italian culture because it shows us many aspects of Italian lifestyle: rest, beauty, shopping, eating, and sharing an open air public space. Our American malls can only claim a few of these elements at best, and one could argue that it is not an accurate representation because only certain types of people regularly attend the mall. From what I know, I would say that most types of Italians use the piazze, and that the sample is fairly stratified. Thus, we can glean an accurate portrait of Italian culture by looking simply at the functions of the piazze.
Ciao Maria. I liked the consideration of how Italians typically live in small places and the piazza is merely an extension of their home. I remember Laura telling us how people could know each other for years here without ever seeing the other persons home. I found it astonishing at the time but now I realize you do not need to when you have a common home shared by all of Italy, with all of the culture present that makes everyone there family.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Maria. I am happy with the rest period. I feel it allows us to appreciate the surroundings around each piazza. Whether the stores are open or not, there is still so much to offer. We can to see how Italians interact or other foreigners act. We get a each to see new and different cultures than our own. We can learn so much from that alone, that books and guides couldn't teach us.
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