How does the piazza provide a lens toward Italian culture? 9/6/10

How does the piazza provide a lens toward Italian culture?

A piazza is an open public square, usually surrounded by buildings. You’ll usually find a bar or café and a church on one side of a piazza. But, unlike some other internationally renowned cities, the piazzas of Rome are truly gathering places for people who love the beauty of outdoor art in all its forms. The Italian piazza’s are the center of Italian life and therefore provides a lens towards Italian culture. For most locals and tourists an Italian piazza is an escape, a place to relax and enjoy the simple pleasures life has to offer. At a typical piazza you will find many artists, musicians, restaurants, nightlife, public art, and places of worship.

There are many piazzas in Italy but my favorite is Piazza Navona. It is the perfect example of Italian culture and has much to offer, and is one of the most famous of Italy’s squares. It is a place for musicians and artists to show off their talents, but to also make a living. Many Italians and tourists gather around the entertainers, awed by their work.

Next, Piazza Navona has many restaurants, open-air-cafes, and nightlife. Even though some of the restaurants are somewhat pricey, there are somewhat affordable ones that have many different plates to offer. The open-air-cafes are nice if you want to get a coffee and relax and the nightlife is what brings the younger generations to the piazza to meet locals and people their age from all over the world.

The public art of Piazza Navona is what I find to be the most interesting from all the other piazzas in Rome. Bernini’s famous fountain: The Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi is a great gathering place for locals and tourists to sit at the ledge of the fountain sipping their coffees and talking to one another. Although Bernini’s fountain in the center of the piazza is one of the most famous there are three other fountains that people can gather by.

Not only is Piazza Navona a place for entertainment and relaxation, but it is also a place of worship, such as: The church of Sant’Agnese in Agone and the Pampphilj Palace. Having places of worship in a piazza is very important to Italian life because religion is what many Italians base their lives around.

Piazzas really are an important part of Italian life and draw in many outside cultures from all over the world. The example of Piazza Navona is to show that it has many amenities to offer for pretty much everyone. From the artists and the musicians making a living to the restaurants and public artwork, Piazza Navona provides a lens toward Italian culture today.