While I was staying in Anghiari at Christmas time, 2016-17, I began conducting interviews with people who live in the town. Some were conducted in Italian, some in English. They will all be published in both languages.

Belonging in Anghiari: Giuseppe Dini

 For many years now Giuseppe has been hosting visitors to Anghiari. I have known him since my first stay in the town, in 2003. On a spring morning, after a long trip from Australia, I was met by him at the train station in Arezzo. From that first visit, whenever I’ve needed help with one thing or another, Giuseppe has been there! So, when I set out on this project of interviewing people who live in Anghiari, he gave me assistance and encouragement. I interviewed Giuseppe in the apartment in which I stay, owned by a Canadian, and managed by him. The interview was conducted in English, and Mirella Alessio transcribed it and translated this edited version into Italian.

I was born about 4 km from Anghiari, in a country house named ‘la Rocchetta’, very close to villa Barbolana. Until I was 9, I had never been to the village of Anghiari, because, naturally, there wasn’t a car, nothing … and so for me the world was only my country house and the houses around it. I couldn’t imagine how big the world was. When I was 9, my family had to move from that country house to another one, close to Anghiari. With a car then, and some furniture, we moved, and that was the first time that I saw Anghiari. And then I said ‘Wow how big is the world’! Continue reading Belonging in Anghiari: Giuseppe Dini →

While I was staying in Anghiari at Christmas time, 2016-17, I began conducting interviews with people who live in the town. Some were conducted in Italian, some in English. They will all be posted in both languages.

Belonging in Anghiari: Armida Kim

 Cinzia and her daughters, Armida and Margherita, run the restaurant ‘Talozzi’ located in the heart of Anghiari. When I was invited to lunch there, Armida carefully explained dishes to me, how they had been prepared and the provenance of various ingredients. After the meal, I interviewed her and her mother. The interview with Armida was conducted in English, and was transcribed by Mirella Alessio who translated this edited version into Italian.

 I was born in Sansepolcro in 1993, and for the first few months of my life, my mum and I stayed here, in Anghiari, with my grandparents. Then we moved to Milan where my dad was working. After 3 years we came back. Until I was 16-17, we lived in the centre, in the most ancient part of Anghiari, where my grandparents lived, and then we moved to the countryside.

 I went to elementary and middle schools in Anghiari, but, then, for high school, I went to a school of art in Sansepolcro that specialised in textiles. And now I am now doing a 3 year European Bachelor of Science in Design in Sansepolcro. Actually … there is a funny thing here, because when I finished high school I won a prize to a University in Torino to study fashion design. I don’t quite know why I didn’t go…. I am very different from my family because they moved a lot, and… actually, I wanted to stay here. Also, the topic that I am studying is very important in this area. Continue reading Belonging in Anghiari: Armida Kim →

While I was staying in Anghiari at Christmas time, 2016-17, I began conducting interviews with people who live in the town. Some were conducted in Italian, some in English. They will all be posted in both languages. Here are two new posts – interviews with mother, Cinzia, and daughter, Armida.

Il senso di appartenenza ad Anghiari: Cinzia Talozzi

Con le figlie Armida e Margherita, Cinzia gestisce il suo ristorante che si trova nel cuore di Anghiari, al confine tra la città medievale e quella rinascimentale. Mi ha invitato da “Talozzi” e dopo un pranzo squisito che mi aveva preparato lei, l’ho intervistata insieme ad Armida. L’intervista con Cinzia, condotta in italiano, è stata trascritta e tradotta in inglese da Mirella Alessio e questa ne è una versione editata.

La mia è una storia particolare perché la mia famiglia non è di Anghiari… Comunque, io sono nata in un piccolo paese in provincia di Siena, che si chiama Buonconvento, un paese interessante, antico, dove si produce un vino ottimo, siamo vicino a Montalcino, al Brunello.

Mio padre faceva il daziere, il daziere era l’esattore delle tasse. Nel 1969 fa un avanzamento di carriera e diventa direttore e viene a dirigere l’ufficio del dazio che era proprio qua, in Anghiari. Quindi io a 9 anni vengo trasferita qua con tutta la mia famiglia: la mia mamma, il mio babbo, la mia sorella e io.

Continue reading Belonging in Anghiari: Cinzia Talozzi →