L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, AUGUST 8, 2024 www.italoamericano.org L'Italo-Americano 2 O ver-tourism often makes a critical mistake: it rush- es. This contem- porary phenome- n o n , w h e r e c e r t a i n t o u r i s t destinations become excessively crowded and visitors adhere to a rigid itinerary as if ticking off a grocery list at the supermar- ket, results in a missed opportu- nity. It wastes the chance for tourists to truly "experience" a place. By congesting and invad- ing these locations, we suffocate and distort them. A city is not a B&B, a five-star hotel, a bundle of metro tickets, or a 72-hour access card to various sites. Visiting a place means immersing yourself in its culture, understanding what makes it special. A monument, no matter how beautiful, historically important, structurally significant, or artistically relevant, is of little value when removed from its Forget checklists, if you want to discover the "Italy of the heart" From the Editor context and separated from the society that surrounds it daily. For instance, we cannot isolate the Colosseum or the Trevi Fountain from their surroundings if we want to truly under- stand and admire them. While the architects, builders, work- shops, master craftsmen, quarrymen, and stonemasons who envisioned, developed, and created these masterpieces disap- peared centuries ago, it is the surrounding landscape that pro- vides context, explaining and enhancing them. If we move from one museum to another, from one square to another, from one garden to an equestrian statue without taking the time to understand the city or town that contains them, its his- tory, and the society behind it, at the end of the vacation, we will have a collection of selfies or Asian souvenirs in our bags rather than a genuine journey through Italy. Agreed, not all tourists are the same, and time is often limit- ed, but the golden rule of being a good tourist should always be followed. Without understanding, all that remains is a collec- tion of receipts or admission tickets. To visit Rome or Venice, one needs to immerse themselves, at least a little, in the local culture. This doesn't mean studying hefty art history books, indulging excessively in cacio e pepe, taking obligatory photos with plastic-helmeted centurions, or flaunting a luxury-brand- ed bag. Seeking authentic experiences, capturing the flow and real life of the place we are visiting, is the invaluable essence of travel. Florence will stay in our hearts if, perhaps, we miss the last entry to the Uffizi but spend half an hour watching the Arno flow as it did in Dante's time. Rushing from one painting to another, from one hall to another, seeing 340 ancient stat- ues in 40 minutes before the closing announcement of this cul- tural haven, it is decidedly better to admire the tranquil flow of the river. Just outside and ready for dinner in a local trattoria, we won't remember any of those 340 statues. It's true that not everyone can afford a trip to Venice every day, and the Rialto Bridge and the Bridge of Sighs are must- sees, but managing to break away from the cyclopic flow of people doing exactly what we are, squeezed between gondolas and alleys, bridges and districts, will allow us to remember something about this marvelous city other than the crowds, the heat, the jostling, and the whirlwind of faces, clothes, and lan- guages from around the world that distort the natural hush that should envelop the lagoon. For example, the Rialto Bridge hosts the most famous and oldest market in Venice every morning. But in Campo de le Becarie, instead of eyeing trinkets or masks, one should wan- der among the fruit and vegetable stalls, meat, and fish ven- dors. Look for the famous violet artichokes of Sant'Erasmo or, from the first light of dawn, smell the sea among the mussels, mantis shrimp, and sardines. That is where you'll find the authentic Venice. Exploring markets is a way to truly grasp the Italian lifestyle. It's not just about encountering the aromas, colors, and ingre- dients that grace their tables, or the flavors that define their renowned regional cuisines. It's about hearing the bargaining between buyers and sellers, and immersing yourself in the everyday life of these places. You capture the essence of Paler- mo at Ballarò, experience the soul of Naples at Porta Nolana, and feel the heartbeat of Genoa at the Mercato Orientale. The objective should not be to frantically see everything, hopping from one destination to another like grasshoppers. Instead, it's about letting the places captivate you, making room in your heart and memory for beautiful moments in beautiful places, creating your own personal Italy of the heart. A leisurely stroll at Florence's Mercato Nuovo among leather sandals and bags, or savoring a gelato at the Mercato del Por- cellino while chasing a little boar with a lucky nose hidden among the vendors, is far more meaningful. Only here, amidst the stalls and the vibrant market atmosphere, does checking off your list like a grocery list make sense. Simone Schiavinato, Editor Simone Schiavinato NEWS & FEATURES TOP STORIES PEOPLE EVENTS Member of FUSIE (Federazione Unitaria Stampa Italianaall'Estero), COGITO L'Italo-Americano Please send correspondence to P.O. BOX 6528, ALTADENA, CA 91003 www.italoamericano.org L'Italo-Americano Newspaper (a 501(c)(3) non- profit organization), www.italoamericano.org, is the largest and longest-running Italian news- paper in America, not to mention the cultural and news resource for all things Italian in the US. A bilingual newspaper which represents an historical landmark for the Italian American Communities in the West Coast and throughout the US. L'Italo-Americano benefits from subsidies by the Italian Government, Memberships and Donations intended to support and not interrupt a mission that began in 1908 to preserve and promote the Italian language and culture in the USA Periodicals postage paid at Monrovia, California 91016, and additional mailing offices. PUBLISHER Robert Barbera Grande Ufficiale EDITOR IN CHIEF Simone Schiavinato ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER Patrick Abbate EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Barbara Minafra COPY EDITOR Francesca Bezzone LOS ANGELES CONTRIBUTOR Silvia Nittoli SAN FRANCISCO CONTRIBUTOR Serena Perfetto SEATTLE CONTRIBUTOR Rita Cipalla CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Mariella Radaelli, Matt Walker, Francesca Bezzone, Luca Ferrari, Stefano Carnevali, Paula Reynolds, Teresa Di Fresco Nicoletta Curradi, Generoso D'Agnese, Jessica S. Levy, Fabrizio Del Bimbo, Maria Gloria, Chuck Pecoraro, Anthony Di Renzo Serena Perfetto, Kenneth Scambray, Chiara D'Alessio, Luca Signorini, Giulia Franceschini © 2024 L'Italo-Americano Membership: One year $59 - Single copy $2.25 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to L'Italo Americano PO Box 6528 Altadena, CA 91003 P.O.BOX 6528, ALTADENA, CA 91003 P.O.BOX 6528, ALTADENA, CA 91003

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