My 37 Photographs Portraying Historical Rome In Modern Life

In 2015 I watched a film with Reese Witherspoon, "Wild", in which the protagonist crosses the United States walking, looking for herself. I thought it would be nice to do a photographic reportage walking my city and so I relied on some already existing routes: first the modern ones of the subway lines and now that of the ancient walls of Rome. I somehow needed to embrace my city, to feel part of its history, of its urban landscape, which is why this time I chose the route of the Aurelian walls. The camera helped me capture some life details that we don't normally notice.

For me, it was a way to pay homage to the history of my city. The walls are part of the urban landscape in which I grew up, they have witnessed many changes, not only in the city but also in my life. They are a piece of history for all Romans, even if sometimes we don't realize it. For me, it was important to rely on this path, to see how the past and the present can coexist in a chaotic city, full of contrasts, but always fascinating.

The challenges were not few. The route was very clear in my head, but some ancient gates of the city no longer exist or have even been incorporated into private buildings, so, after hours of walking, looking for the right direction without losing even an inch of the route was certainly hard. But above all, I didn't want to lose the sunlight and for this reason, I needed to finish the route before sunset, even if actually I completed the walk when it was already dark: it was still beautiful.

I loved the moment I arrived at Porta Maggiore during the "golden hour". In that spot there is a beautiful contrast between the walls, the large gate and the square, where there is a streetcar stop with many people waiting. It's a multi-ethnic square, full of life, I really loved being there in that moment, with that beautiful light. Also, as in the other walks of the Coast to Coast series, it was also wonderful to walk the last 100 meters, see the end, feel satisfied with having finished the route: beyond the photography, walking for so long next to the city walls is a beautiful way to embrace Rome and its history.