I always complain that Rome is not among those capital towns well-known world-wide for its local street art, but actually we do have our quite interesting districts.
Moreover, this neighborhood is populated with many young people coming studying at the nearby University of Rome Tor Vergata (which is not so near actually, but many students choose to live along via Tuscolana and –especially- in Quadraro and this was happening many years before the gentrification, ages actually -given that I was among those students and I’m almost 30 now!).
As you can read on the project website, M.u.Ro. is “an outdoor museum, a collection of Urban artist’s works from all over the world“;
Wandering through this neighborhood, you can admire artworks by Alice and Jim Avignon, Ron English, Zelda Bomba and Beau Stanton, as well as many other local street artists who gathered all together to create street art which interacts with Quadraro people, a contemporary art collection totally integrated with the social fabric. Which is the best success you can hope from street art!
As you can’t say gentrification without spotting a bistrot with recycled and/or vintage furniture, hipsters who go to Quadraro can’t help stopping at Grandma Bistrot; I’ve already been there to try the not-so-extraordinary cuisine, but tonight I’m back to enjoy the live concert of an old friend touring Italy with his solo live music project “the sleeping tree”. I use to know him as a dub-reggae bass player from several quite famous projects, we met at my first experience in the SamoReggaeStan staff in Slovenia and he soon became part of that extravagant bunch of musicians spending the night at our hippie commune (a.k.a. EVS house), and it’s always a pleasure to meet again someone with whom I shared –even if briefly- that glorious past.
Tonight’s music was very different from the kind of sound I’m used to associate him with, but after a couple of songs I started enjoying the vibes and this different soul of the good musician he is.
Would you like to explore Rome off the beaten path with me?
Then book one of my alternative walking tours in Rome!
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