A couple of weeks ago I started really thinking about the things I love in Calabria. I wrote about my favorite meal-time experience … the long, leisurely lunch and today, I’d like to talk about what we do after that. And no, I don’t mean sleeping (although that is a pretty handy southern Italian tradition, too, come to think of it.) I’m talking about the passeggiata.
The passeggiata is a popular Italian ritual, so regardless of where you are in the bel paese, travelers should be able to find-and join-the local stroll. It starts around dusk and happens most often in the historical center of the town or along the beachfront lungomare. However, even individual neighborhoods have their own passeggiata rituals and as I type this I know familiar faces are starting to emerge along the Fiumarella … the walled river path along my road.
In Catanzaro, the city moves south for the summer and the Catanzaro Lido lungomare buzzes with toddlers on tricycles, giddy teenagers in their glittery shoes, young couples, holding hands and stealing kisses and moms, dads and grandparents meeting other moms, dads and grandparents and talking about their day.
Most Italians dress for the occasion, so you’ll see me, with my prissiest high heel sandals, strolling along beside them … until I start getting blisters and I have to sit down while my husband fetches the car.
The thing I love most about this ritual, isn’t the people-watching-and meeting!-or even that it usually follows dinner, allowing you time to digest before running off to bed, or even that most Calabrians would prefer to stop for gelato or coffee, rather than a whiskey and soda.
No, I do love all of those things, but above all, I love the energy. I love the excitement. I love the air, so alive with the laughter and language that it floats through you and makes you part of the group, part of the community, part of this lifestyle … if only for a night.
My favorite place for a passeggiata is along the Catanzaro Lido lungomare … with a double scoop of Marrons Glacès gelato, of course. Where is your favorite promenade?
Traveling to southern Italy? Why not sign up for my newsletter to get even more inside information on living and traveling in Italy.
One of favorite Italian pastimes as well.
See, you’re going to have to come to Calabria so we can have a passeggiata together along the beach!
You can’t beat the evening passeggiata. Sometimes we even drive into Vasto, which is about a half hour away, just to take a stroll.
Fun! We “drive” to our passeggiata, too. We usually have dinner down there, so it is kind of an all in one-type thing!
I spent the better part of the Christmas holidays in Montecatini Terme, Pistoia in 2006.
There was a delightful passiggiata there along Via Giuseppe Mazzini.
And gelato was involved…….
As it should be … .
I miss this. In Milan people don’t do this for some reason. This something that my husband and I have never understood. When we go back to his home town in Abruzzo we never miss an evening and when we visit other towns we always head for the lungomare or piazza principale to enjoy it.
Wow, I didn’t know they don’t do this in Milan. I’d def miss it, too! I love it.
I’m always to embarrassed to join in, I guess because I’m usually alone.
Noooo!!! Don’t be embarrassed. I like to go on passeggiata alone sometimes – makes for better people-watching!
I love the photo of the old men lined up on the bench and of course it goes without saying that I also enjoy ‘passeggiata’
I wish I could take credit for that one – It is from Nelly Windmill via Flickr.
You bring your town alive with your words..I almost felt like I was there..
Awe, shucks … thanks. 🙂
Wow… It must be nice to stroll in passeggiata especially when your with your special someone. How romantic. Passeggiata you just entered my personal travel list.