It’s no secret that I am hopelessly, eternally in love with Italy. From the moment I first set foot on her hallowed ground, a flame was ignited in my heart that no amount of senseless bureaucracy, endless post office lines, or nonsensical immigration rules will ever vanquish. With not one drop of Italian blood to call my own, I feel an unrivaled kinship with this country. Her woes are my woes. Her joys are my joys.
If Italy never spared me so much as a glance, I would still adore her. And truth be told, she is too beautiful to photograph. But I, as her most devoted postulant, have attempted to capture her likeness with my humble iPhone 6s, which is now seven or eight iterations of iPhone out of date. It works. I’m grateful.
There are no selfies in this montage. There are barely any people. I don’t frequent over-photographed places like the Colosseum or the Ponte Vecchio. I prefer to photograph Italy’s “beauty in solitude,” moments, quiet photos that are less representational, but tell a story.
I’m not a professional photographer, just an amateur with an old phone, a full heart, and a playful eye.
Enjoy.
Amelia, region of Umbria, province of Terni. The church is hundreds of years old.
Tuscania is one of those Viterbese villages that just takes your breath away.
More Tuscania. Notice the steepness of the hills. That’s because all of Italy is a Stairmaster, and if you don’t wear comfortable shoes here, you’re crazy.
The brooding, Renaissance skies of Aspreta, a frazioni of Amelia.
Cypress trees look like dark candleflames, don’t they? Our village of Amelia looms in the distance.
Umbria, the “green heart” of Italy, is one of its smallest regions, with a population of maybe 800,000. It is also the only region that doesn’t border with water or another country. This is Guardea, a village that lies about 15 kilometers from Amelia.
Where Italy borders with France. Heavy fog..
The wild poppies of Umbria.
Monte Soracte (Lazio) seen from a distance. The Nazis actually built a bunker in that thing.
Most Italians are apartment dwellers, but there are thousands of medieval villages with places like these, full of leaks and poor Internet connections, but rich in beauty, character, and soul.
Collevecchio, Umbria. The name means “old hills.”
Rasiglia, Umbria, population thirty. These are mill races that wander throughout the village, making merry water music.
Todi, which is pretty much a vertical climb, and totally worth it.
Monterano, a ghost town outside of Rome that not only has Bernini sculptures, but was featured in the movie Ben Hur and others.
Every single village has a “vibe” to it, some positive, others less so. Vignanello was breathtaking, a little lonely, but full of surprises.
The Amalfi Coast near Cinque Terre. Yes, it’s every bit as beautiful as you think it is. I damn near died climbing up to the top of a medieval tower IN THE HEAT to take this photo.
Gorgeous shots! And you know what? My older iPhones all took better pics than my current 11 which supposedly (?) has a much better camera. The old speakers were better for music, too. Go figure! In any case, I love your photos and your eye for composition, so please keep them coming.
Gorgeous shots! And you know what? My older iPhones all took better pics than my current 11 which supposedly (?) has a much better camera. The old speakers were better for music, too. Go figure! In any case, I love your photos and your eye for composition, so please keep them coming.