VIVA ITALIA!

Italy... What comes to mind when you pronounce that word, either mentally or verbally? The Coliseum? Canals of Venice? Movies with Adriano Celentano, Marcello Mastroianni and Sophia Loren? The Uffizi Gallery? The works of the great Leonardo da Vinci? The Vatican? Or tasty and healthy food? Perhaps all at once. And of course, a beautiful love story of Romeo and Juliet, poeticised by Shakespeare and filmed by Franco Zeffirelli. However, if you happened to have been to Italy, you would never forget it. Not only because Italy is the cradle of the world art, a country of ancient architecture and culture. There is something in its open spaces and air that allows you to love it forever. All this is expressed in the song Viva Italia that is so pathetically performed by Ana Belen. 

Responsible and carefree

Long live Italy! Italy that works, Italy that falls in love, desperate Italy.

Italy is half a debt and half a fate.

Long live Italy that is in seventh heaven.

The "boot" of Italy, known to everybody from geography lessons at school, is divided into the South and the North. The North, in comparison with the South, is pragmatic, more reasonable, more industrialised and more "organised" in all senses and respects. In short, if they are to be compared with human characters, then the North is a serious and responsible person. He works hard, taking care not only about today but also about tomorrow. In contrast, the South is the personification of a more frivolous, more reckless and a little lazy character. In relation to the North, the South behaves like a younger mischievous brother, preferring a carefree attitude towards life to hard work. Whereas the older North, looking sadly at the younger's "tricks," paternally solves his problems. One cannot but remember Garibaldi, who put forth so much effort to unite the North and South so that to create a single state. Today, looking at the results of this effort one cannot help asking: was it worthwhile? Geographically, Italy may look small, but it is impossible to get to know the country by moving from town to town. In order to understand Italy, you have to live here, at least for a year. But even then you will only be able to catch the idea of Italy, not to comprehend it. And in order to understand how much the Italians love their country and how they preserve its beautiful image over the time, two weeks should be enough.

General impression

What immediately strikes the eye is the fact that there are many dark-skinned people here. These are not tourists; these are refugees. The European Union prefers to keep them in Italy and not to hear the country's pleas for assistance in solving this problem. Every day sees the arrival of hundreds (and even more!) of those who are coming here in search of a happy share. The Vatican calls for mercy, and Italy, which is amidst the second wave of crisis, shows it. That is good, from the point of view of humanity. What about culturological aspects, though? Let us imagine: a large number of people of different culture, with different concepts of social life and mentality that is very different from the mentality of the indigenous population rapidly appear in the country that boasts of the world culture, long-held traditions and cultural background accumulated over centuries. What will follow is a slow but steady erosion of the foundation of established laws and principles, including moral principles. However, representatives of the dark-skinned races are not the only ones who have come to Italy illegally in search of a better life. There are many Ukrainian women here, who find jobs in the homes of wealthy Italians and, having a good practical grasp, get adapted very quickly. To such an extent that they are able to destroy a family, which brings into the usual foundations and traditions of family life certain "freedom" that borders with the concepts of sin and immorality in the perception of an Italian woman. Here, there are many women from Moldova, Poland, Serbia and Croatia. The Great Migration of peoples in the 21st century has begun. However, it can hardly bring about any positive moments and only undermines common moral principles and cultural traditions proved by centuries. People that come to Italy - both men and women - bring along "their own" world. However, a trail of such "stuff" turns into a problem of slow destruction for any country.

One day in Milan

Long live Italy! Liberated Italy, Italy that drinks coffee, Italy stolen, Italy completely plundered,

Long live Italy! All of us are Italy.

A city of business people, industry, banks, fashion designers, boutiques, Adriano Celentano, architectural monuments; it is the administrative centre of Lombardy, with regional, national and international railway stations, an airport, a seaport and five man-made canals passing through its territory. At the station, as well as on the train, one can meet people of different races speaking various languages, including one's own language.

Thus, we are in Milan. Its main attraction is people - kind, friendly, hospitable, open and hardworking. If you do not speak Italian or English, but badly need a direction, they will surely help you. They would listen to you patiently, clarify mute points, understand your problem and certainly help. Architecturally, it is Piazza del Duomo - Cathedral Square. Situated on the square are the Gothic Cathedral and the equestrian statue of King Vittorio Emanuele II. Inside the cathedral, there are beautiful stained glass windows of the 16th century. The cathedral entrance is fitted with a brass strip rising to the northern wall. On the opposite wall, there is an opening for a light beam to get through. The beam impinges on the brass strip and illuminates the plates with the zodiac signs located on either side of this strip. Here one can meet believers from different geographical locations of the world.

Leaving the cathedral, you will certainly get onto the square, and then into the Gallery of Vittorio Emanuele II. This is a favourite place of the Milanese and tourists. Here are brand shops, bookstores that preserved the decor of the past centuries, restaurants and bars where you can enjoy a cup of coffee. Coffee in Italy is not just a national drink; this is a national religion. This is a lifestyle, an opportunity for a dialogue, a form of recreation, a source of news, and many more. One cannot tell about it better than it is already said in the song Viva Italy!

Here, you can buy nice souvenirs for yourself and your friends for about 5 euros, and then walk to the Via Torino. This street is one of the oldest in Milan. It accommodates many boutiques, shops and stores. Little side streets running off left and right have maintained their historic appearance and attract the attention of tourists by their primitive beauty. Walking down the Torino Street, you can easily get to the Navigli neighbourhood and appreciate the view of the canal. But first, go to La Scala Square, admire the monument to Leonardo da Vinci, go to the La Scala Theatre, and visit its museum. You will have plenty to look at, even if you fail to get to the performance. Opened in the 18th century and having survived the bombing and restoration in the 20th century, it retained that aura of high art, which can be compared with the prayed-in condition of the holy places! The magic of true art does not leave the auditorium even when it is empty!

However, if you are interested in haute couture, then go to the Fashion Square mall located near Cathedral Square and treat yourself to the acquisition of most prestigious brands. Here you can also admire the aristocratic architecture of the 19th century. Houses of this style are called palazzo, which means palaces. Heading to the Naviglio Grande, be careful while crossing the roadway. There are many scooter drivers and motorcyclists here. This is a very popular means of transport in Italy. If you have time, be sure to visit Pinacoteca di Brera [Brera Art Gallery], Dante Street, the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, the Leonardo da Vinci Museum of Science and Technology, but then certainly go to the Navigli - canals that were designed by Leonardo Da Vinci as far back as the 14th century. They were created as transport waterways to supply trade goods and building materials. As such, they had been used by the Milanese until the mid-19th century and then gave way to the trains and trams. The Grand Canal is a favourite tourist destination. After coming here, you seem to drop out of the time and get into a romantic space of lovers and idle serenity. In addition, the Fiera di Senigallia market is open on Saturdays here, where you can buy high-fashion clothing brands at a very affordable price. On every last Sunday of the month, this space is occupied by an antique market.

Before leaving Milan, visit the cafe at Via Verdi, 6, which is called Cafe Verdi. You will not read about it in any guidebook. However, this place is frequented and loved by the Milanese, creative intellectuals and tourists who accidentally got here. If you wish, you can buy antique piano scores, hats of famous Italian artists, rare art books, exclusive photos of theatre and cinema stars. The cafe offers a good service and a wide range of Italian dishes, wines, desserts and, of course, coffee. All this is available for a moderate fee. This place has a charming atmosphere reminiscent of the theatre backstage. The past and present have acquired a special form of time here, and after a while, an illusion is created that this cafe unveils secrets of life of the celebrities who once used to sit in this cafe, as you are sitting now. This illusory feeling is going to trail you for a long time.