Rome

The first tour is an intecultural walk in Rione Esquilino to explore the shops, associations, places of worship, languages and histories of migrants living in Rome. Rione Esquilino is well known to people living in Rome – fun but also a place of political activism, challenging yet lively and industrious.  There is a market crammed full of strange products with unpronounceable names, streets of artisan shops and, most of all, people seen but rarely listened to. On the other hand, it was here in Esquilino that the Orchestra of Piazza Vittorio was born whose musicians bring the world to life in sound. The tour starts at the meeting place in front of the Porta Magica di Piazza Vittorio and makes the following stops on foot: the porticos of Piazza Vittorio, the Chinese Buddhist Temple, the Auditorium of Mecenate, the church of Sant’Alfonso, the Arco di Gallieno, the Mura Serviane, the Church of San Vito, the Islamic Centre and the Roman Aquarium before finishing at Nuovo Mercato Esquilino. The two-hour walk in Esquilino can be combined with a museum visit complementing the subject matter of the tour through exploration of the history of art of Roman migrants’ countries of origin, and key themes linked to migration.  We recommend in particular two thematic tours (China and Islam) organised by the Museo Nazionale d’Arte Orientale Giuseppe Tucci and the Museo Nazionale Preistorico Etnografic Luigi Pigorini. For more informations

A second tour relates instead to the neighbourhood of Torpignattara, not far from the city centre and one of the most densely populated areas of Rome, with a large presence of migrants, mostly Bangladeshi, who have reclaimed under-used and dilapidated spaces in the area (between the 1970s and 1990s, the area lost half of its residents due to its state of criminality and physical degradation). The main primary school “Carlo Pisacane” is a true multi-ethnic experiment and model for integration. The walk travels through the side-streets of Torpignattara where we will encounter small shops selling saris and other brightly coloured and embroidered garments and learn , with the help of the Bangladeshi women, how to wear them and what jewels go with them.   In a beauty centre we will learn about various natural recipes for personal care, make-up, and Mendhi and henna tattoos. We will visit small food shops catering for marriages and other ceremonies. Finally, we will meet the women of the Bangladesh Association for an exchange of women’s customs and traditions. For more informations