Part 3 – Il grande viaggio 1975… 50 years since Nanna Francesca and Nonno Anni took their ‘big trip’ overseas and returned to Italy for the first time since the 1930s.
The joy of travelling through Italy from top-to-toe… Nonno Anni on a boat in Venice, Nanna Francesca at Florence’s cathedral and a monument to the fallen in Anacapri. Together by L’Aquila’s fountain with its ninety-nine spout heads of 13th century local lords.
One of my favourite photos is the ordinary street somewhere in Italy when Nanna Francesca snapped Nonno Anni unaware as he returns with cones of gelati for the two of them. It’s pretty hard to go to Italy and not have gelati!
It must’ve been a glorious trip for them both after decades of no holidays while working in the Astoria café, on farms and in their fruit shop and milk bar in Australia. A chance to see loved ones and friends again in their hometowns and also see places all through their beloved Italy they’d been unable to while young. A time when impending war and trying circumstances confined most to their local areas. How different 1970s Italy must have seemed! 💛🌠
Received this lovely gift from a reader, Augusto (who doesn’t mind me sharing that he lives in Australia, was born in Fossa, Abruzzo and was pleased to discover the books). At 80, for the first time he’s learnt copper smithing and made me this little, copper conca and ladle, like those larger ones traditionally used in Abruzzo to collect water (women like my bisnonna Maddalena carried them on their heads).
Thank you to Augusto, such a beautiful kindness. I will treasure it always! And many thanks to all who’ve connected through messages and letters. It’s such a pleasure to hear from you. What most drives me to write is to preserve experiences of ‘everyday’ people and their often overlooked yet I believe significant parts of history. Thank you for your interest (and I’m working hard on the next book!!) xx
Zoë Boccabella 