Ritorna a scrivere per Tre Righe Tony Tasca,autore del bellissimo articolo "Sessant'anni in America" pubblicato sia nell'edizione on line di Tre Righe il 9 novembre sia in quella cartacea sempre di novembre .
Tony è stato a Roma in vacanza per una settimana e sabato riparte per gli States.
Gli auguriamo buon viaggio e tutto il bene del mondo .
Quello che segue è il resoconto di un giorno della sua vacanza romana speso per visitare il Museo dell'emigrazione italiana. Grande Tony.
Ci scusiamo per i nostri lettori che non fossero in grado di capire il testo dell'articolo,ma abbiamo ritenuto giusto pubblicarlo nella lingua con cui Tony lo ha scritto .
D.F.
A visit to the emigration museum
This morning I was up earlier than normal. It was a chilly morning and
the sun was not yet out. After breakfast, I walked to the museum. It
took me about an hour to get there on foot. My right leg was hurting me a
bit. Perhaps all the walking was catching up with me. In the US I do
not have the same opportunity to walk, so I tend to go overboard when I
am in Paris, Madrid, Rome or Palermo. Best cities for walking.
The museum is under the massive, white marbled, national monument called the Vittoriano, where the unification of Italy is celebrated, and where the tomb to the unknown soldier is guarded. The monument does not fit its surroundings. Romans call it the wedding cake.
The museum opens at 9:30. I got there slightly after that. Several guards stand by. To the right, there is also an exhibit of one of the late Italian Prime Ministers and Presidents of Italy: Giovanni Spadolini, a social democrat. To the left the museum dedicated to Italian emigration.
Since 1850 about 68 million Italians have left Italy in search of a better future. About half of them returned home.
The many documents, artifacts, pictures, and films chronicle this exodus of epic proportions. In the background you can hear the songs of immigrants, evoking emotions of sadness, loneliness, and desperation.
I was blown away by one painful documentary: innocent Italians lynched or executed because they were Italians. It was before modern time but it showed the side of host countries' discrimination and racism.
The museum does a great job of educating visitors regarding the amalgamation of Italy from separate and distinct regions: how Italy morphed from "a geographic expression" to a more cohesive whole, although major divisions still occur between the North and the poorer South.
I was the only visitor. After an hour and one half, I continued my walk stopping for a double decaf in Piazza Venezia. The sun was now warming up as I sat al fresco people watching in the square where Mussolini used to get the crowd going with his endless speeches. So much water under the bridge.
I proceeded toward Trevi Fountain. The restoration, I was told, was complete and the place looked splendid.
On the way, I came to a small church. It was dedicated to Santa Rita. Recalling that this Saint was special to my mother, I decided to entered it.
It was indeed small, by Rome's standards. No more than 100 people would fit. One nave, three alters. The other two dedicated to the Sacred Heart and to San Antonio of Padua. The architecture was a blend of rococo and later styles. The ever present chocolate colored and white marble gave the structure an exquisite feeling. The three huge paintings behind the three alters gave the church its age: 17-18th century.
I sat for s few minutes admiring its beauty. I soon was engulfed by thoughts about my late mother. I got up and lit a candle in her memory. I deposited a small offering before walking to St. Anthony's statue.i noticed that it was kind of small, but the saint's eyes seemed to follow me. I said a prayer on behalf of my daughter, asking for the customary saint's intercession.
I exited. Next to the church is a large edifice hosting the foreign press. A priest was being interviewed by many reporters. I wondered about what ...
I soon arrived at the Trevi Fountain. Thousands of tourists were everywhere.
I took several obligatory photos and moved on. Indeed they had done a great job with the restoration.
I walked to my friend's store. I thanked him for the recommendation of where to eat in the Ghetto. I then purchased a pair of shoes and bid him goodbye. Simon is such a character! I admire him a lot ... Straightforward, funny, smart, affectionate. Values I respect!
I decided to have lunch at the Trattoria Matriciana. I had eaten there once already, but I cherish this place, purveyor of gastronomy since 1870.
I was not disappointed: rigatoni alla carbonara, puntarelle salad, strawberry custard dessert.
I then meandered back to my B&B. I had walked 6.5 miles. All together I have walked over 25 miles since Monday.
Tomorrow I will taxi to the Hilton where I will spend the night. My flight is at 7:20 AM on Saturday.
It will be good to go home. I have had a great trip. My cup runneth over!
Tony Tasca
The museum is under the massive, white marbled, national monument called the Vittoriano, where the unification of Italy is celebrated, and where the tomb to the unknown soldier is guarded. The monument does not fit its surroundings. Romans call it the wedding cake.
The museum opens at 9:30. I got there slightly after that. Several guards stand by. To the right, there is also an exhibit of one of the late Italian Prime Ministers and Presidents of Italy: Giovanni Spadolini, a social democrat. To the left the museum dedicated to Italian emigration.
Since 1850 about 68 million Italians have left Italy in search of a better future. About half of them returned home.
The many documents, artifacts, pictures, and films chronicle this exodus of epic proportions. In the background you can hear the songs of immigrants, evoking emotions of sadness, loneliness, and desperation.
I was blown away by one painful documentary: innocent Italians lynched or executed because they were Italians. It was before modern time but it showed the side of host countries' discrimination and racism.
The museum does a great job of educating visitors regarding the amalgamation of Italy from separate and distinct regions: how Italy morphed from "a geographic expression" to a more cohesive whole, although major divisions still occur between the North and the poorer South.
I was the only visitor. After an hour and one half, I continued my walk stopping for a double decaf in Piazza Venezia. The sun was now warming up as I sat al fresco people watching in the square where Mussolini used to get the crowd going with his endless speeches. So much water under the bridge.
I proceeded toward Trevi Fountain. The restoration, I was told, was complete and the place looked splendid.
On the way, I came to a small church. It was dedicated to Santa Rita. Recalling that this Saint was special to my mother, I decided to entered it.
It was indeed small, by Rome's standards. No more than 100 people would fit. One nave, three alters. The other two dedicated to the Sacred Heart and to San Antonio of Padua. The architecture was a blend of rococo and later styles. The ever present chocolate colored and white marble gave the structure an exquisite feeling. The three huge paintings behind the three alters gave the church its age: 17-18th century.
I sat for s few minutes admiring its beauty. I soon was engulfed by thoughts about my late mother. I got up and lit a candle in her memory. I deposited a small offering before walking to St. Anthony's statue.i noticed that it was kind of small, but the saint's eyes seemed to follow me. I said a prayer on behalf of my daughter, asking for the customary saint's intercession.
I exited. Next to the church is a large edifice hosting the foreign press. A priest was being interviewed by many reporters. I wondered about what ...
I soon arrived at the Trevi Fountain. Thousands of tourists were everywhere.
I took several obligatory photos and moved on. Indeed they had done a great job with the restoration.
I walked to my friend's store. I thanked him for the recommendation of where to eat in the Ghetto. I then purchased a pair of shoes and bid him goodbye. Simon is such a character! I admire him a lot ... Straightforward, funny, smart, affectionate. Values I respect!
I decided to have lunch at the Trattoria Matriciana. I had eaten there once already, but I cherish this place, purveyor of gastronomy since 1870.
I was not disappointed: rigatoni alla carbonara, puntarelle salad, strawberry custard dessert.
I then meandered back to my B&B. I had walked 6.5 miles. All together I have walked over 25 miles since Monday.
Tomorrow I will taxi to the Hilton where I will spend the night. My flight is at 7:20 AM on Saturday.
It will be good to go home. I have had a great trip. My cup runneth over!
Tony Tasca
Nessun commento:
Posta un commento