The alleyways of Trastevere are the veins of Rome. Here, there is always a tavern or craft shop to visit, there are always card games played on street corners, and the exuberant style and culture of the district (now considered the “Historic Centre”) is manifested in its street art.
Finally back (R)home! As an Italian living abroad, the first months of 2020 were kind of tough. The only thing I could think about was if (worse moments) or when (brighter days) I could have seen my family again.
I did, eventually, and here are some memories from my first trip to Italy after lockdown, as well as some surreal images of Rome without tourists.
When I was 7 years old, the TRV Crew started tagging the walls of Rome. That’s how all this began for me; as an innocent hunt down the rabbit hole of Rome’s earliest graffiti scene. Little did I know that, almost 30 years later, I would once again be walking on TRV’s footsteps by going from Rome to Amsterdam, where I met Nico.
Saying that Palermo is worse off is a gross understatement. Palermo’s palaces are, at best, beaten up, but in any other scenario they’re outright shattered. Yet their crumbling facades, which the North African sun and the sea breeze keep eroding daily, are what make Palermo so seductive.
Palermo walls are full of writing. Graffiti and street art, sure, but also sprayed messages with no artistic ambition whatsoever -just the urge to declare one’s love.
I was constantly impressed by how much of the everyday conversation goes on the walls of the city, where messages of love are sprayed next to graffiti and street art.
Here are my favorite love messages: