Posts Categorized: Society

Tension is rarely far from the surface in Bologna, the capital of northern Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region. Autumn is the student protest-marching season, when students occupy buildings, run political discussions and hold demonstrations. These photographs were taken between 26 October and 3 November 2016 at a student protest against rising meal prices at the university canteen. Bologna… Read more »

Hidden behind the graffiti and street-art walls of an abandoned warehouse in northern Italy, migrants gather in a classroom to learn Italian. This is Scuola di Italiano migranti – the Italian school for migrants.  “This place is beautiful. I learned Italian here. I have a lot of friends here. It’s like a big family,” Salman tells us…. Read more »

In 2015, a blog called Doppio Standard (Double Standard) was launched in Italy. It aims to challenge attitudes by talking about ‘slut shaming’, victim blaming, bullying, homophobia and gender stereotyping. Bloggers Mary, Tiziana and Barbara talk to Portraits from Italy about how they are using social media to reach a new generation of women. “My online activism… Read more »

The Baobab is a prehistoric tree that grows in the dry African savannah. Known as the tree of life, it symbolises endurance in a landscape where little else can thrive.  It’s no surprise, therefore, that in a sometimes hostile world for refugees, a collective of volunteers in Rome known as the Baobab Experience is protecting them. “Thank you Baobab”… Read more »

Welcome to Via Fondazza, a long porticoed street in the crayon-red historic centre of Bologna. This is where Federico Bastiani first opened Social Street, a Facebook page, in 2013. His aim was simply to make new friends. After posting a leaflet on his street inviting people to join, the group quickly grew and neighbours started talking to… Read more »

Ritmo Lento – ‘Slow Rhythm’ in Italian – is the name Pasquale and Alessandro chose when they founded a meet-up for young adults. Together they opened a self-funded bar in the San Carlo district of Bologna, where they hold regular talks and events in an attempt to ‘rebel against time’. “After university we found ourselves not knowing where to… Read more »