In Italy, every town has its main piazza – a central square where the essence of life unfolds daily. It’s where locals gather, stories are swapped, and routines are created. Our piazza might not be the grandest among the neighboring towns, but it’s full of life. With three restaurants, two bars, and a beloved gelateria, it’s become our headquarters for coffee, food, people-watching, and the occasional deep conversation about life. And on Fridays, it transforms for market day, a weekly tradition that moves from town to town, bringing everything from fresh produce to antiques. Here’s a peek into a typical week in our lively Italian piazza.
Mornings at Gelateria 77: Where Our Day Begins
Our day usually starts at Gelateria 77, which, despite the name, is also our go-to for breakfast. Italians may be known for their espresso and cornetto breakfasts, but at Gelateria 77, it’s practically a sacred ritual. After a couple of espressos and a warm, flaky cornetto, we settle into our favorite spot to watch the morning activity unfold.
The workers are first to arrive, grabbing espressos on their breaks and sharing animated conversations, likely venting about work or discussing local gossip. Then, there’s the cyclist crew – groups of riders in lycra, fresh off their morning routes, sipping their cappuccinos and recapping every twist and turn of their ride. Grandparents with their grandkids add a wholesome vibe, the kids darting in and out as grandparents look on, half-amused and half-exasperated.
And then, like clockwork, comes the big bus. This massive vehicle arrives every morning, somehow maneuvering an impossible turn in the piazza, as it picks up travelers heading to Campo Imperatore, Rome, or Pescara. Watching the driver navigate the tight squeeze is an unspoken community event – onlookers shake their heads, smirking as if to say, “No way he’ll make it,” only to nod approvingly when he does.
Sitting there with our coffee, surrounded by the buzz, we start contemplating the big questions in life – or at least daydreaming about what our lives will look like once our house renovation is finished. It’s a peaceful ritual, right up until we realize we should actually be working on that house renovation instead of just dreaming about it.
Friday Market Day: The Piazza in Full Swing
Every Friday, our piazza transforms into an open-air market, a tradition that moves from town to town, bringing fresh produce, artisanal goods, and even antiques. Vendors set up shop early in the morning, displaying everything from vibrant fruits and vegetables to homemade cheeses and bread, creating a colorful display that takes over the entire square.
We always start our Fridays with a stroll through the market, picking up ingredients for the weekend and usually more than a few impulse buys. You’ll find everything from local honey to handcrafted ceramics. But the real highlight is watching the whole town come alive. Locals greet each other with hugs and laughs, neighbors chat across stalls, and there’s a general air of celebration. The town’s characters all seem to come out on market day – the vegetable vendor with his signature booming laugh, the cheese maker who insists you sample everything before you buy, and the spice vendor who has somehow memorized every local family recipe and has recommendations for all of them.
Afternoon Check-Ins: A Place That Pulls You In
Even when it’s not market day, we find ourselves pulled back to the piazza throughout the day. It’s magnetic – even if we’re just passing through, we usually end up lingering. Sometimes it’s a quick stroll to see what’s going on; other times, it’s a chance to bump into a neighbor or exchange a laugh with someone we met that morning at Gelateria 77.
Occasionally, our casual strolls turn into spontaneous afternoons at Degusteria, one of the local bars where conversation flows as freely as the wine. Italians are masters of the leisurely drink, and we’re more than happy to join in, especially since the waitstaff greet us with a friendly “Ciao!” and remember our usual orders. Sometimes, these spontaneous visits lead to a return trip to Gelateria 77 for an extra scoop of gelato. We convince ourselves it’s all part of the Italian lifestyle – gelato is practically a food group here.
Market day is a weekly reminder of why we love it here – the sense of community, the joy of shared traditions, and the feeling that no matter how busy life gets, there’s always time to stop, chat, and soak it all in.
Dinner, Conversations, and Meeting the Mayor
The piazza isn’t just about coffee and gelato – it’s home to some fantastic dining, too. We have two favorite restaurants that have become regular spots for us: Castelli Ristorante and a small butcher shop that doubles as a restaurant. Castelli Ristorante is cozy, serving delicious, comforting meals that are perfect after a day of work on the house. The butcher shop is owned by none other than the town’s mayor, who somehow balances local politics with running a restaurant. There’s something surreal about ordering your meal from the mayor himself, who’s just as likely to be chatting about local news as he is about the day’s specials.
These restaurants have become gathering points for locals, expats, and visitors alike. Over dinners, we’ve met people from all over – other Americans, curious travelers, and locals with roots going back generations. Each table seems to hold its own little cultural exchange, with stories, laughs, and recommendations for the best nearby sights and flavors.
And, of course, the real locals are fixtures here, too. Some of the town’s older residents have been sitting in the same spots for as long as anyone can remember, having the same daily conversations with friends they’ve known their entire lives. It’s like watching a living piece of history, knowing that these seats, these conversations, have been part of the town for generations. We joke that they probably claimed those tables when the piazza was first built, and no one’s dared to challenge them since.
Finding Our Place: Becoming Part of the Piazza’s Routine
There’s something deeply special about being part of a piazza. It’s more than just a square; it’s a feeling, a sense of belonging. Every morning spent at Gelateria 77, every passing “Ciao!” from the locals, every drink at Degusteria makes us feel more rooted here. We’ve gone from visitors to regulars, and now, like so many others, we’re part of the piazza’s rhythm.
We know the people, the faces, the routines – who sits where, which tables belong to which groups, and who can be counted on to greet us each day. We even find ourselves adjusting our day around the piazza’s schedule, knowing when the bakery opens, when the piazza’s busiest, and, of course, when Friday market rolls into town. We’re woven into its fabric now, part of the scenery just as much as the cobblestones and café tables.
Evenings in the Piazza: Where Life Slows Down
As the day winds down, the piazza transforms once again. Families come out for evening strolls, friends gather over glasses of wine, and couples walk hand in hand. The pace slows, the lights come on, and there’s a soft buzz of laughter and conversation in the air. Some nights, we grab a glass of wine at Degusteria, marveling at how this place has become central to our lives. Other times, we wander over to Gelateria 77, indulging in a late-night gelato as we soak in the quiet beauty of the evening.
It’s during these evenings that we reflect on our journey, realizing that our piazza has become more than just a square. It’s the heart of our new life here – a place where we’ve found community, friendship, and a sense of belonging. Every espresso, every gelato, every spontaneous chat has brought us closer to this town, to its people, and to each other.
In the End
Our piazza might not be the biggest or the most famous, but it’s our corner of Italy, where life unfolds day by day, in the most beautiful, unhurried way. With every Friday market, every coffee at Gelateria 77, every night spent at Degusteria, we’re adding to our own story here. And with each passing day, we know that this piazza will continue to shape our lives, bringing new memories, new friends, and plenty of moments that we’ll treasure forever.
