L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2023 www.italoamericano.org 12 L'Italo-Americano I taly is known for its art, architecture, cui- s i n e , a n d n a t u r a l beauty, but often we forget how some of its most iconic landmarks are s t r e e t s t h a t f o r c e n t u r i e s offered locals and visitors a way around our cities, or rep- r e s e n t e d a d e s t i n a t i o n i n itself. Here are some curiosi- ties on five of Italy's most famous streets…even if some of them are not quite streets at all! Via della Spiga, Milan Via della Spiga is part of Milan's fashion district and it is known for being one of the city's most famous streets. It was created at the end of the 18th century, and its name c o m e s f r o m t h e I t a l i a n w o r d s p i g a , w h e a t e a r , because the area had been known originally for its cereal fields. In the 19th century, Via della Spiga became one of the most elegant and sought-after residential sites in Milan, while in the 20th it estab- lished its name as the go-to destination for high-end shop- ping, a characteristic it still maintains today. Indeed, Via della Spiga is visited every year by thousands of people looking for designer outfits or ready to enjoy some time in one of the street's many fash- ionable restaurants and bars. Here, if you are lucky, you m a y e v e n m e e t f a m o u s designers and top models, if you are in Milan during Fash- ion Week! Last but not least, w e s h o u l d r e m e m b e r t h a t s o m e s c e n e s o f t h e i c o n i c m o v i e T h e D e v i l W e a r s Prada were filmed on location here, in beautiful Via della Spiga. Ponte Vecchio, Firenze This is not literally a street, but when it comes to being iconic, you can't beat Ponte Vecchio, in Florence. Ponte Vecchio is one of the most symbolic landmarks in Flo- rence. It was built in 1345 on the city's main river, the Arno, t o c o n n e c t w h a t i s t o d a y known as the city's historical center with the Oltrarno bor- ough. Much like other streets in this article, Ponte Vecchio is famous for its many tradi- tional ateliers, workshops, and stores that line it: head here if you're looking for handcrafted pieces and jew- elry. Ponte Vecchio was the only Florentine bridge not to be destroyed by the Germans when they abandoned the city during World War Two: it seems that the German commander in charge, Von dem Bach-Zelewski, was an art lover and couldn't bring himself to destroy the ancient medieval bridge. Ponte Vec- chio is not only famous for its history and stores, but also for the breathtaking views of Florence and the Arno river it offers. Via Condotti, Roma If you've been to Rome, you definitely took a stroll along Via Condotti, one of the city's most luxurious and renowned streets. Via Con- dotti runs through the very heart of Rome and connects Piazza di Spagna with Piazza del Popolo. Its name derives from the condotto dell'Acqua Vergine, an ancient Roman aqueduct that used to bring w a t e r t o t h e c a p i t a l a n d , indeed, the story of Via Con- dotti can be traced back all the way to ancient Rome. B a c k t h e n , i t w a s p a r t o f the Via Flaminia, one of the main communication arteries of the Empire. In the Middle Ages, the street was often walked by the many pilgrims who would come to Rome to visit its churches and basili- cas. It is in the Renaissance, however, that Via Condotti b e c a m e a s y n o n y m f o r wealth and luxury because m a n y n o b l e f a m i l i e s h a d their residences built along the street. In later centuries, its fame as a high-end loca- tion was reinforced by the growing presence of jewelers and fashionable, expensive stores. Today, Via Condotti is home to the boutiques of Bulgari, Gucci, Prada, Carti- er, just to name a few, but also to important art muse- ums such as the Carlo Bilotti Museum of modern and con- temporary art. Of course, cin- ema lovers remember Via Condotti for its appearances in movies such as Roman Holiday and La Dolce Vita. Spaccanapoli, Napoli Spaccanapoli's name comes from the central posi- tion of the street, which truly seems to divide Naples into two halves. The street follows t h e o l d p a t h o f t h e V i a D e c u m a n a , w h i c h w a s N a p l e s ' s m o s t i m p o r t a n t s t r e e t i n R o m a n t i m e s . Indeed, Spaccanapoli has always been there: if it could talk, it would tell us about the times the Greek-Roman town of Neapolis was founded, about the Gothic invasions, about the times it was gov- erned by the Byzantines and by the Normans; it would r e m i n d u s o f t h e c o u r a - geous Carbonari who fought for the city's independence during the Risorgimento, and also of the tragedy of allied bombings during World War T w o . A h i s t o r y b o o k , a l l t h e r e , i n a s t r e e t . S p a c - c a n a p o l i i s , t o d a y , b e s t known for its architectural beauties, including the San Domenico Maggiore Church, the Santa Chiara Monastery, the Cappella di San Severo, P a l a z z o P i g n a t e l l i , a n d Naples' Cathedral. The street is also famous for another reason: it's here that the tra- d i t i o n a l h e a r t o f N a p l e s b e a t s . W i t h i t s m a r k e t s - Porta Solana, Sant'Antonio Abate, Pignasecca - Spac- canapoli is a place where it's e a s y t o b a s k i n a t r u l y Neapolitan atmosphere. And it's perhaps in this unique mixture of historical, artistic, and folkloristic that Spac- canapoli finds its deepest essence. Ballarò, Palermo Just like Ponte Vecchio in F l o r e n c e , B a l l a r ò i s n o t strictly a street, but it is a place where hundreds of peo- ple walk through every day, to do their shopping or enjoy a slice of vita palermitana. The Ballarò market is the oldest of Palermo's historical markets. It is located in the Albergheria borough of the c i t y a n d i t w a s f o u n d e d sometime in the 12th century when Palermo was the capi- tal of the Norman kingdom in Italy. Ballarò, of course, is the place locals get their fresh food and ingredients: from meats and fish to cheeses, vegetables, and all the exotic spices that characterize Sicil- ian cuisine. You can also find s t a l l s s e l l i n g a n t i q u e s , clothes, and flowers. But call- ing Ballarò simply "a market" would reduce greatly its cul- tural and social importance, because here you can still see a n d e n j o y t h e t r u l y c o s - mopolitan and multicultural nature of Palermo, a city that has been the meeting point between East and West for millennia. You may wonder where this famous place gets its name from… some say it m a y c o m e f r o m t h a t o f a s m a l l v i l l a g e n e a r Tours, Ballerault, the place of origin of the first traders who settled in this area of Palermo. Last but not least, Ballarò also appears in litera- t u r e : f o r i n s t a n c e , i t i s d e s c r i b e d b y G i u s e p p e T o m a s i d i L a m p e d u s a i n his The Leopard. Beautiful Via Condotti in Rome (Photo: Alkan2011/Dreamstime) Taking a stroll along Italy's most iconic streets LUCA SIGNORINI HERITAGE HISTORY IDENTITY TRADITIONS PEOPLE

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