I Love You. Rome

Of Ancient Cities and the Human Condition.

I have wanted to visit Italy so badly that I've resorted to watching their first locally produced TV series on Netflix to prime myself.

I am so glad I did as I get to visit the streets and sights of Rome every night after dinner.

I get to feast my senses on the opulent art, architecture, and infrastructure of the city down to the last detail of ancient cobblestones underfoot and intricate touches on columns, ceilings, church domes and murals on skylights. From the hefty solid gold Vatican door knobs down to fine accessories donned by Romans on their hands and romanesque bodies looking just as good in metal breastplate and battle helmets as in torn jeans and leather jackets. It is a rewarding experience.  

The script and stories that unfold are intriguing and convoluted to say the least. It seems to me that blood is quite easily spilt on the streets of Rome. Especially in the Subbura, place of ill repute- Caesar's family home started in these parts in 63BC.

From a macro perspective, one understands that Rome was (to a lesser extent now) a bathhouse of countless cultures and civilisations for two thousand seven hundred and seventy five years. That is a lot of blood, sweat and tears to wash down the streets of modern day Rome. 

This mafia-led gangster series see fellow Romans of all stripe and ethnicity slit each others throats and shoot each others brains out staking territories to control and expand, scheming to rule all of Rome. Both young and old fighting together, each other or plotting to murder the other.

The key players are young, confident, incredibly talented and all adorned with looks fashioned after their Greek ancestors. Adding further delight, is  an equally talented production crew of directors and cameramen/women. Meticulousness and attention to details with breathtaking framing of Rome's great locations bring a huge expansiveness to the cinematic experience. I guess this gentleman sitting on top of the production heirarchy; Executive Producer,  Matteo De Laurentis may be responsible for the slick production. The Italians have come a long way since the days of the spaghetti western, Tornatore, Bertolucci,  Zefferelli, Coppola and Scorcese. Now it's Danielle Cesarano and Barbara Petronio, both women. Rome is indeed run by beautiful and gritty women.

Still on production, special mention must be made of the music production. The angsty high energy Roman gangsta rap soundtrack that accompanies the series drives it hard and fast like a runaway train. A beautiful vignette of modern day's young people's Rome, their current sentiment is made felt here.

What a wonderful way of visiting Rome. Seeing the sights and hearing the sounds from the dark side sitting on my backside.

Then... there's the scenic drive from Rome to Venice with unscheduled stops in Florence and Bologna with little intent of arriving. That as they say, is a story for another day...

Ciao!