I caught the travel bug in 2014, and though I doubt anyone can ever really shake it off, I have found myself returning to Italy more so than any other country. Rome was the first Italian city I visited, and I was immediately charmed. Wandering along the romantic cobblestone streets, with the echo of footsteps ringing up past the balconies and windows (where you can catch a glimpse of someone smoking a cigarette or applying another layer of lipstick), it’s impossible not to get very happily lost in this city. Whilst most visitors to Rome are drawn to it for its history, art, architecture, ruins and monuments and, of course, the food, I began my travel series on Italy by photographing its people. My eye has always been drawn to the way people engage with each other and their environment, and I consistently find that scenes of the everyday, which can be so easily overlooked, are the best representation of any place. By focusing on the way people interact with it, I believe a photograph can more accurately depict the energy and elements of a city that make it so very unique.
Luckily, Italy is not short of brilliant characters who perfectly set the scene to portray the many beauties of everyday life in this country. Whether it’s the restaurant owners standing proudly in front of their establishments, inviting very welcome newcomers to share in their passion for food and the love that goes into its preparation, or the line of locals drinking shots of espresso by the counter, having a friendly chat with the barman who is serving them. It is in watching the way the Italians embrace their lifestyle that a visitor can best hope to experience it properly; as the locals do!
In the summer months, people from all over the world flock to Italy’s coastline, which boasts some of the bluest water I’ve seen to date. Curious to discover what the Amalfi Coast hype is all about, I spent a week consuming as many home-made carbohydrates and cones of gelato as was appropriately over-indulgent, and lying on beach chairs sipping overpriced, (but well- received) Aperol spritzes, reading a book and watching the sun move its way across the sky - all the while ensuring the water didn’t stop sparkling for a second. Though there’s no denying the presence of tourists and all the frills and fuss that is made to keep them coming back to this beautiful stretch of bays and villages that have been built (miraculously, it seems) into the cliffs, I was most pleased to see crowds of Italians also frequenting the beaches, even if it meant descending over 400 steps! Families spend entire days on the beach, armed with beach balls and floating devices. With most beaches equipped with a seaside restaurant serving pizzas all-day long, it’s no wonder people keep coming back here year after year.
In my most recent trip to Italy, I spent another week by the sea – this time in Puglia. I’d argue it’s one of Italy’s best-kept secrets, and whilst I did love the Amalfi Coast, it would be a great shame for this region of villages and beaches, safely-guarded by fields and fields of olive trees, to be bombarded by the same busloads of tourists. Instead of trying to spot Italians on the beaches, my friend and I found that we were often the only foreigners in sight! For those who love stepping back in time, whilst still enjoying all the splendour of the Italian culture, Puglia is an absolute oasis.
I know I have only scraped the surface of all that is Italy from these few visits that I’ve been lucky enough to make, but I look forward to discovering more of this country, in order to build a bigger collection of photos that capture its everyday moments, to encourage others to discover and experience them too.