Poets & cities: every place has a soul!

a nation of poets, of artists, of heroes, of saints, of thinkers, of scientists, of navigators, of migrators

In Italy, poetry weaves itself into the walls and streets of its towns and coastlines.
The musicality of the Italian language and the depth of its verses resonate through time, carrying the emotions of those who penned them. Poets often draw inspiration from the places they call home, and their legacy lingers, etched into their hometowns, shaping the cultural landscape and becoming part of its story, and of the itineraries of the destination.

It’s a challenge: to make you fall in love with a place through the hearts that once breathed life into these towns.

Trieste, Umberto Saba

Trieste, a city nestled in the northeast, has long been shaped by foreign dominations. Even today, it remains a border city, embracing the complexities that come with it—a stunning sea view, a blend of languages, and a population that exudes openness and cultural diversity. Its beauty is perfectly encapsuled in these verses:

Trieste ha una scontrosa
grazia. Se piace,
è come un ragazzaccio aspro e vorace,
con gli occhi azzurri e mani troppo grandi
per regalare un fiore;

Trieste has a surly
grace. If one likes it,
it is like a rough and voracious lad,
with blue eyes and hands too big
to give a flower.

Cinque Terre, Eugenio Montale

The coastline of Cinque Terre is one of the most stunning regions in the country. These five picturesque towns, perched on rugged cliffs and rolling hills, can only be explored on foot. Winding steps, narrow streets, and breathtaking sea views create a romantic atmosphere that has long inspired both its inhabitants and visitors alike. Here are the verses of a love poem by Eugenio Montale:

Ho sceso, dandoti il braccio, almeno un milione di scale
e ora che non ci sei è il vuoto ad ogni gradino. (…)
Ho sceso milioni di scale dandoti il braccio
non già perché con quattr’occhi forse si vede di più.
Con te le ho scese perché sapevo che di noi due
le sole vere pupille, sebbene tanto offuscate,
erano le tue.

I descended, giving you my arm, at least a million steps
and now that you are gone emptiness is at every step. (…)
I descended millions of steps giving you my arm
not because four eyes may see more.
I descended them with you because I knew that of the two of us,
the only true eyes, though so veiled,
were yours.

Modica (Sicily), Salvatore Quasimodo

Salvatore Quasimodo was one of many who left southern Italy in search of success and recognition in the more culturally influential North. Yet, such journeys often come at a cost—forcing one to distance themselves, even when their homeland remains deeply ingrained in their soul. Sicily’s beauty is wild, raw, and passionate, much like Quasimodo’s poetry:

Ognuno sta solo sul cuor della terra
trafitto da un raggio di sole:
ed è subito sera

Everyone stands alone at the heart of the world
pierced by a ray of sunlight:
and suddenly it is evening.