{"id":3481,"date":"2020-03-25T10:51:36","date_gmt":"2020-03-25T15:51:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.effettoitaly.com\/en\/?p=3481"},"modified":"2020-04-08T23:40:54","modified_gmt":"2020-04-09T04:40:54","slug":"the-heart-and-soul-of-italy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.effettoitaly.com\/en\/blog\/the-heart-and-soul-of-italy\/","title":{"rendered":"The Heart and Soul of Italy"},"content":{"rendered":"#iorestoacasa #andratuttobene
\r\n\r\nWhat a surreal world we live in right now. But amidst all the darkness, there are points of light \u2013 in humor, spirit, comradery, love \u2013 that emerge in our wonderful country right now.
\r\n
\r\nConnecting from balcony to balcony<\/b>
\r\n
\r\nFrom major cities to the smallest towns, Italians are distancing, but of course, still being social. And all that is needed is a balcony. Songs are belted out, music from makeshift orchestras fill the air and despite a lockdown, connections are nonetheless made. In Rome, impromptu renditions of \u201cVolare\u201d are crooned out of hundreds of windows, while in Turin, the \u201cMacarena\u201d is preferred. In Naples, a conductor conducts on one terrace, while various instruments are played out of street-facing windows. Birthdays are still remembered and \u201cBuon Compleanno\u201d is chanted across the piazzas. In Florence, a roof top DJ blasts Bob Marley\u2019s \u201cIs This Love\u201d, with the oh-so apropos lyrics,
\r\n
\r\n\r\nWe’ll be together,
\r\nwith a roof right over our heads
\r\nWe’ll share the shelter\u2026
\r\n<\/i>\r\n
\r\nand everyone takes a moment to dance.
\r\n
\r\nTough love<\/b>
\r\n
\r\nHeavy-handed Italian ruling is the name of the game. But it\u2019s not without a wry sense of humor or a familial love for its citizens. Mayors from Basilicata to Umbria to Piedmonte are not-so-subtly demanding (begging) that Italians stay at home. The governor of Campania politely asked the citizens not to go out or else he would \u201csend the police over\u2026with flamethrowers.\u201d Others questioned the validity of dogs needing to be walked and became crazed over \u201cmobile hairdressers\u201d. And the mayor of Reggio Calabria gently reminded his constituents that they should not act like Will Smith from the movie, \u201cI am Legend\u201d. While the tone and style of these leaders illustrate a cultural difference from their Anglo-counterparts, the compassion is the same.
\r\n
\r\nAlways steeped in tradition<\/b>
\r\n
\r\nNow more than ever, Italy remains immersed in its more ancient and traditional rituals. Take for example, the peddler priest in Biblione, 30 km North of Venice, who travels in the back of a three wheeled car through his town. Liturgical music blaring from the radio, he recites prayers on a microphone. His focus is mainly the elderly, the sick, and of course, the travel agencies, among some of the most affected by the outbreak. Reminiscent of the 16th century plague, he would stop at each business to bless them and pray that they weather the crisis. Only in Italy.
\r\n
\r\nA sense of duty and community<\/b>
\r\n
\r\nWhen the Italian government appealed to the country\u2019s doctors to help fill a 300-person task force, an astounding 7923 doctors answered the call. Thousands of volunteers throughout Italy began initiatives to help the elderly with shopping, medications and basic companionship. Countless examples exist of strangers helping strangers, young assisting the old, and the healthy helping the sick across the country. Nothing seems brighter than this.
\r\n
\r\nItaly\u2019s true heart and soul is many things to many people. It is both spiritual, like the peddler, and festively secular, like the balcony revelers. It is both paternalistically rough, like the local leaders, and gentle, like the thousands of volunteers raising their hands to help. And even in these days of uncertainty and bleakness, Italy still shines.
\r\n
\r\nFrom everyone at Effetto, we will see you soon. Stay safe and stay well!
\r\n
\r\nThe Effetto Italy Team\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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