The images , taken from a drone, by Alessandro Di Meo and Stefano Vitali
Silence. The most striking thing about Rome at the time of the Coronavirus is silence .
The deserted cities are the mirror of the ongoing battle; the atmosphere is spooky and it is impossible to get used to this surreal scenario, which is already history.
Many in the first days of lockdown were tempted to go to see deserted Rome. But the reality is that walking around the city feels lonely; alone as Giordano Bruno in Campo de 'Fiori, accustomed for centuries to be surrounded by life, noise, smells and today motionless in an unreal silence.
If it were not for the few people who still meet in the street, distant memories of a world that no longer exists, one would feel overwhelmed by such greatness. Today the walls themselves inspire fear. And the seagulls are the masters of the streets of the center, hungry and noisy, the only ones to "scream" between fountains, churches and cobblestones.
Rome in these days is very clean, a jewel that shines. And it is yet another proof that dirt, sloppiness, abandonment are not only the fault of politics but the direct responsibility of those who live there without respecting it. It would be great, when all this is over, to be able to maintain this level of cleanliness. And it would also be fantastic to be able to respect the ranks: now we know it can be done, something we have learned. The Flavian amphitheater has seen lords and gladiators, plebeians and senators.
It was already there during the great black plague of 1300, the Spanish of the early 1900s, the Asian flu in 1957, the Hong Kong flu in 1968, Sars in 2003 and the so-called 'Swine' in 2009. It was there for millennia and will still be there when you can leave the house again. He will be there to celebrate with all of Italy when, perhaps with some fear, we will return to embrace each other.