BlueFrog Photoblog
Public Housing Mussolini Style
Posted by Sylvia Van Nooten (Milano, Italy) on 27 December 2006 in Cityscape & Urban.
The public housing dating from the glory days of Fascism in Italy is gorgeous. Blocks of apartments with large rooms, balconies and gardens. Unfortunately those who were lucky enough to inherit an apartment in these quarters are not into the DIY scene. The majority of these building are falling apart.
Once my husband and I were looking at a particularly sad garden, where there were gorgeous old rose bushes and a climbing lilac that must have been 40 years old, half buried beneath the urban crap of mattresses and bottles. An old woman stopped and started to talk to us. She said that once people took a lot of pride in their gardens and their homes in this quarter. Once it was an honor to have such a beautiful apartment. She actually cackled (she was that old) and told us how NOW people complain because the government doesn't take care of these PRIVATE gardens. They expected a free house AND a free gardener.
If any of you have spent considerable time in Italy (I'm going on ten years now) you will know this phenomena well. It is one of the most frustrating aspects of Italian culture. But I won't go there. I'm trying to be a NICE expat. and often failing miserably.
Canon PowerShot A400
1/500 second
F/3.8
6 mm