Anghiari si racconta

It was (pesante) tough, very tough, because news arrived through the media, and we saw what was happening in northern Italy, where Covid started, in Milan, Bergamo. At the beginning we didn’t know what we were getting into; on tv, we only saw the military trucks carrying coffins (from Bergamo) to other towns for cremation. Here, the situation was different because we live in the central part of the Apennine mountain chain. The cities with the biggest numbers of Covid cases were in northern Italy, and Rome, Naples. Villages in the interior, in the hills and up in the mountains were more protected. It makes sense because they are less populated. It did arrive here too, I can’t remember very well when, in ’20. We heard of different families with sick people before the first lockdown. We stayed at home waiting for it to finish.

For me personally, staying at home was not such a big sacrifice, perhaps because Armando and I are lucky to have a very big garden where we could move about even if we couldn’t go outside the property. You were only allowed to go for a stroll around the house for a radius of 200 metres, to take out the dog, for example. We ate Easter lunch in the garden sitting on a blanket with the view of Anghiari in front of us. That was our Easter lunch: Armando and I, and our dog, Spillo. Could it get better than that?

But, oh, that eerie silence, especially in the evening, because in the evening, well actually even during the day, the sound of sirens of passing ambulances reminded us of what was happening. And then there was the blue of the clean sky – I have never seen such an intense blue. The air quality, the visibility, improved, there wasn’t that layer of dirt that comes from human activities – all factories were closed. Nature recovered a bit in that period.

In Anghiari, all shops, restaurants, were closed. Only the alimentari and the pharmacy were open. We went shopping with a mask, which was a bit strange. Perhaps we exaggerated with precautions – we disinfected all containers before putting them away in the kitchen shelves. But, in the end, getting foodstuff, for me at least, wasn’t such a big problem. We closed the shop where I work for more or less for 3 months, 3 times, perhaps 4 times, I don’t remember. While everything was closed, we lived on state benefits – for many it was difficult, especially if there was only one income.

In Anghiari, only 2 or 3 people died. Many were very sick, in intensive care; hospitals were unprepared and didn’t know what to do, until the arrival of vaccinations. But, at the Sansepolcro hospital the situation wasn’t such a disaster as in northern Italy.

What I missed the most was not being able to hug people. I am used to hugging friends, acquaintances – if you meet a friend, you hug them; in small towns it is like that, we all embrace each other, we are more physical than in big cities. It was perhaps one of toughest things, (faticoso), not being able to hug, not even a brother, a friend… we all have a family, an identity – something was missing. Now, I have gone back to being what I was before, I am still the same person. Now, let’s say, all is quite normal.

The closure of the town was strange as Anghiari is such an open place, people are very friendly. Arriving here at your house today I met your neighbour, she recognised me, she is one of my mother’s friends, a friend of mine, they are all good, capable people, the young ones too. I feel an intense love for this town, and I would love it if everyone could experience this feeling so things would be better.

Over the last 2 years, people have started coming back to live in this old part of town, in Anghiari vecchio. Before, windows were closed; now, even in winter, people of all ages are coming back to town. During Covid, people left big cities and moved to places in the countryside. Those who lived in Milan and had a house here didn’t stay in Milan, they came here. This is a positive effect of Covid – many looked again for somewhere immersed in nature, somewhere to cultivate the land. Some young people originally from Anghiari are coming back here too.

I want to look to the future in a positive way. Let’s hope.