A Walk Through History - Oriolo Romano

A Walk Through History

I didn’t have anything other than the name...the name of a village that once was the familiar home to my grandmother’s family prior to their migration to the US. With the name on a piece of paper we set out to discover her town and capture each moment for the rest of our family to see.

The village was modest in size with tattered buildings, each telling a story of a compelling past. From the main square, perched on a busy street sat a humble coffee shop; the morning gathering place for the locals allowing them to ease into their day with a strong cup of espresso. And to accompany their strong brew was a delicious pastry- pastry only the Italians have crafted to perfection.

The main square housed an antique clock tower, which marked the passing of time with each chime reminding us all that time is a delicate, precious gift. We played with our son below the tower trying to hold on to each moment, grateful that we were all able to witness a deep sense of history.

And as I walked the streets, I kept thinking of a past so rich and so mysterious that each cobblestone could hold the footprint of a life unknown. And as I continued to stroll through the narrow streets with newly cleaned laundry hanging from the windows, I wished that my grandmother was walking those streets with me, sharing her knowledge of a life I know so little about.

Red Poppies in a Field

Driving on the back roads...

A sign outside the police station in Oriolo Romano

As we walked down the small streets...

The main square in town facing North

Looking East

Noah sitting on a bench

Another street in town