Ana Kinsella

'Passeggiata' is the Italian word for the leisurely, pleasurable stroll taken in the golden light of the evening. It is a social activity. This is not a stroll taken for health or exercise so much as an opportunity to see your friends, and to be seen by all and sundry. Interactions that might usually take place in private homes, or at least in semi-private spaces such as restaurants or bars, are part of the public realm here. If you find yourself on a busy Italian street just before dinnertime, especially on a Sunday evening, you'll notice that people dress up for passeggiata. They make the most of the flattering evening light in the clothes they want to show off. If you are a tourist who ends up in the melee on her way to grab a beer in her shorts and sandals, skin sticky with old sunscreen, well, you're going to feel a little underdressed.