Roman holiday
August. With the temperature and humidity rising at unsustainable levels, the only chance of survival for people living in Rome, far from exotic destinations, is to grab a few square meters either on the rare beaches accessible without paying on the nearby coast or the brand-new city beach carved out of the Tiber’s mud.
From Ostia to Anzio, the ritual repeats: umbrellas, deckchairs, towels everywhere; people drying themselves in the sun; children screaming; guys playing football by the sea. Under the umbrellas, people are reading, sleeping and, above all, eating, with the help of huge food racks famine-proof. Street vendors quickly alternate to make up for food, drink, and beach equipment shortfalls. The beach resorts are crowded with people playing cards.
Over the years I have enjoyed documenting the Roman summer for those who, like me, have spent the month of August in the city in recent years, either by choice or compulsion.
