Random Street Scenes in Italy

One of my favorite experiences from visiting Italy is encountering surprise random street scenes that I find interesting. Whenever possible, I prefer to travel without a strict schedule or agenda, so I can capitalize on opportunities not always afforded by all travelers. Most of you already know how much I abhor large group tours, the type where a guide carries a colored flag and 30-50 people follow behind with an audio guide earphone attached to their ears. These frequently can be seen from cruise ship excursions rather than local personalized custom small group tours.

So when wandering around cities and villages in Italy, I often look for unique photo opportunities of locals going about their everyday lives. I also like to find unusual perspectives of buildings, architecture, and landscapes. This blog post is a compilation from the last eighteen years of my Italy travels. Some of the photos may be familiar, while others have never been posted. I will add context to each one to make the photo more meaningful. I hope you enjoy them and maybe feel as if you’re traveling with me virtually.

This colorful tiny vehicle parked in front of an eyeglass shop in Lucca made me smile, since I’ve never seen one of these where I live. At first, I thought it was a smart car, but it is much smaller and known as an electric quadricyle. Postal workers use these to deliver mail here, and its small size (1 meter wide) makes navigating the narrow and inclined streets much easier. Manufactured by Ducati in Bologna, its name is the Ducati Energia Free Duck, with a top speed of 28 mph.

On one of my earliest trips to Rome, I was captivated by the lighting at night on this fruit vendor’s stand. If you look closely, you’ll see the fruit vendor sleeping on the right side of the photo. This memory kept alive through the photo still brings a smile to my face.

This vacant home in Manarola in the Cinque Terre caught my attention due to the unusual roof construction. I was particularly intrigued by the rocks added on top of the corrugated roofing material. I’ve since learned that many structures in Tuscany sport this type of roofing, and while its purpose is to strengthen the original roof against winds, there is also a superstitious component to the practice.  Many believe the rocks will bring good luck and help keep them safe from evil spirits.

I’ve always found it humorous when observing unconventional parking practices, like this one in Milan. Convenience seems to be the order of the day as drivers double park and squeeze into spots in the most creative of ways.

This sight really cracked me up in Palermo. Despite the No Parking sign, this driver not only parked in that spaced, but did so at a very odd angle and put its tires up on the sidewalk for added measure. You have to love the Italian drivers. Notice the large dent on the rear door.

Architecture has always intrigued me, especially in Italy. This building is in the UNESCO World Heritage Tuscan town of San Gimignano, well-known for its medieval towers and well-preserved centro storico. The text visible on the facade reads ALT 332,and i’ve learned that it refers to the altitude of 332 meters.

While wandering around in the southeastern Sicilian town of Donnalucata, I noticed this young boy riding his bicycle. This seaside hamlet is a small fishing village with amazing beaches and a promenade used as the filming location for the popular Montalbano Italian TV series. It is here where Commissario Montalbano often strolls along the sea.

The most famous bridge in Verona is the Ponte Pietra bridge, which is the oldest of seven bridges in this city and dates back to 100 BC. After its destruction during WWII, it was rebuilt using the original stones. When I took this photo in 2011, I was so focused on the reflections and uneven arches on the bridge, I don’t recall noticing the couple relaxing on the bank leading to the Adige River.

Have you been enamored by random street scenes in Italy? I’d love to hear your feedback, so please consider leaving a comment!

Till next time,

Grazie and Ciao.

I want to say thank you for supporting my writing and enjoying my Italy travel memoirs. Some of you may know know that I also have written 3 novels, in the thriller genre, and I’m grateful and humbled that they are all award-winning books.

In case you haven’t checked them out,  they are all available in paperback, kindle, and audiobook.

Click below for a taste of my second novel, A Cure for Deceit.

A Cure for Deceit by Margie Miklas Wins Silver Award