Going for a walk “fare una passeggiata” is a ritual for many Italians and the seaside promenade of Corso Italia is perfect for this. That’s why my street photography of Genoa focuses there. The promenade stretches lazily along the coast, like a boundary between the steady city and the changing sea. Someone pours sunshine there every day, which slows down the steps and encourages mindfulness. Despite half-closed eyes from the light and the sound of the waves in your head. Of course, it is not necessary to have a goal or a finish line. The important thing is to walk ahead, which becomes very fluid in the company of the sea. And you don’t even realize when, almost in a meditative state, you reach the end. And at the end – the ancient borgo Boccadasse, a former sailors’ settlement. A small bay opens its mouth to the salty waves. Simple, nestled houses have loud colors and smell like a sea. They don’t match the splendor of la Superba1, so they are hidden behind a corner.
Of course, as it is in Italy, it is difficult for a walk to go without food. That’s why, if you make it to Boccadasse, I recommend trying cono fritto at Ge8317 (a cone with fried seafood and vegetables), snacks from Il Genovese and, for dessert, ice cream from Antica Gelateria Amedeo. While here you can see photos from Genoa and the couple’s photo shoot at Boccadasse here.
The photo shoot in Nervi went wonderfully, even despite the cloudy skies. Because, after all, the sea is beautiful, regardless of the weather. Nervi is the easternmost district of Genoa and it is easily reached by train.
Was the district originally a Celtic colony? Possible. Its name comes from the saying ‘near av inn’ – a place close to the sea. Its most beautiful part is the Passeggiata Anita Garibaldi1 promenade, suspended on the cliffs, which, attacked by the waves, leads to the quiet harbor. Perhaps this road still remembers its humble beginnings and the daily journey of fishermen and farmers? Or the glory years when rich patricians built their summer residences here? The growing settlement over time absorbed the parks of the seaside villas. The remaining fragments of gardens were combined to form the Parchi di Nervi botanical complex. The local people don’t talk much. Probably because they are drowned out by the sea.
Me, You and the Sea
Marzia Sicignano
Don’t just take anyone to see the sea, that’s a big deal. […]
Bring someone you don’t have to talk to, because the sea is a silent film that surprises you with its colors,
with the sensations it provokes in your guts, and not so much with the sound of the waves, of course, but also.
But what really counts, of the sea, are the nuances. As of everything that is beautiful, after all.
Bring someone who has been able to show you that you are worth much more than you think, than what you would expect,
someone who makes you a priority and not a pastime,
who can feel your tragedies inside without thinking that they are trivial and irrelevant.
Bring to see the sea, someone who can understand you without talking who lift you up if you are lost who lets you lean on his shoulder when you fall, […].
Bring someone, who makes you feel inside a perfect, stupendous chaos,
who makes you feel that it is beautiful to wake up in the morning, just beautiful.
Bring us someone like that, and you’ll feel like you’re seeing something amazing, something shocking and you’ll feel like you’re seeing the sea for the first time in your life because it’s so beautiful you’ve never seen it before.
The photoshoot in Sestri Levante was very short but effective. We arrived at the small town on the east coast of the Ligurian Riviera before noon. Sestri Levante, in my opinion, is one of the most beautiful places in Liguria. I am enchanted by its colors, the endless view of the sea and the bay hidden behind the old town. The former fishing village has become one of the most popular destinations for Italians. Therefore, to take full advantage of Sestri Levante’s beauty, it is worth coming here in early spring or (as we did) autumn.
We took the photos on the beaches of two bays: Baia delle Favole (it. Bay of Fables) and Baia del Silenzio (it. Bay of Silence). Don’t the names already encourage romantic shots? We started on the Baia delle Favole, which was empty at this time. The color of the sea was stunning that day. On the beach I managed to take one of my favorite photos of 2022. Natalia and Wagner embraced on the breakwater, the gentle waves of the sea reflecting the lovers and the green mountains in the background. We arrived at the second bay at lunchtime, so it was a little more crowded. We finished our photos at the Cutter Cucca restaurant, enjoying the beauty of the sea with a glass of white wine and delicious fish dishes.
A photo session in Genoa can take place in many locations. This time we visited less touristy routes that allow more freedom to pose. This makes you feel more comfortable, especially at the beginning, without a crowd of observing passersby.
We started in the historic center, climbing the Stradone di Sant’Agostino. It houses, among other buildings, the architecture department of the Technical University with a beautiful stone entrance gate. At its end is the sunny Piazza di Sarzano. This time full of football playing children. We did, however, manage to take a few shots with the green doors in the background. I don’t know why but portraits with green doors always come out great. Then through the narrow streets we reached the hidden church of Santa Maria di Castello. I took my last photos in the inner courtyard of the Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale). The palace is one of Genoa’s most important buildings but is never crowded, even though you can enter it free of charge. The bright, classical, symmetrical architecture makes a perfect background for photos, and the open courtyard provides just the right amount of light.
When the session was over, we went for cider at Kamun bar, hidden in the narrow streets of the old town. If you want to try Italian craft beer, this place will be a very good choice. Photos from other Genoa locations can be seen here: Boccadasse, Via Garibaldi and Castelletto, Nervi.
Microcement bathroom combines minimalist design and functionality. It can be used on walls, floors and even ceilings. Surfaces made with this technique are homogeneous: they do not require joints. As a result, the interior is optically enlarged. In addition, it is a hygienic solution, as we avoid the accumulation of dirt in the joints. Therefore, it is ideal for bathrooms of any size. In this project, in addition to the walls and floors, a combined countertop with a sink and illuminated niches for cosmetics were designed. The whole was complemented with glass elements and dark stone decorations. Light can be an interior decoration in itself. The LED light cutout above the bathroom mirror has a very practical use, but also creates a striking illumination. The play of light and shadow beautifully highlights the structure of the microcement. This will give any bathroom a modern touch.
Between Art & Design
The photos were created on behalf of Between Art & Design. It is an Italian company of three brothers founded in 2018 in Genoa. Between mainly deals with residential design and building renovation. Their specialty is just microcement, custom furniture and resin floors. You can see more details of the microcement finishes here.
Microcement is a decorative finishing material that offers enormous possibilities. It can be applied to walls, floors and even furniture. The number of textures and colours is endless and the only limit is your imagination. It is perfect for industrial, minimalist interiors, emphasising the geometry of the space. It combines interestingly with other materials – wood, metal or glass. Its three-dimensional texture introduces a play of shadows that change with daylight and the illumination. A matte or polished finish of the material introduces additional effects. Therefore, interiors with microcement will never be boring. However, microcement is not only an aesthetic finish. Thanks to its composition (mainly cement and resins), it creates durable, water-resistant coatings. This is why it works well in bathrooms (photos of the realization here), kitchens or public spaces.
Between Art & Design
The photographs were commissioned by Italian company Between Art & Design. Three brothers: Jackson, Luis and Leonardo Villamizar started their business in 2018 in Genoa. Between mainly deals with residential design and building renovation. Their speciality is specifically in microcement, custom-made furniture and resin flooring. Whether it’s a large project or a small renovation, they always put their clients at the heart of their work, combining their work with technical and artistic consultancy.
Is one day in Siena enough to see the city? Certainly not. But it is sufficient to be able to get lost in it. It’s probably my favourite kind of sightseeing – without a plan or tourist spots to pass. That way you don’t have to rush or look at a map too often. And Siena is a great place to wander around.
The pride and sanctity of the inhabitants are the contrade – the districts. Each has its own animal symbol, such as a unicorn, a dragon or a porcupine. Thanks to the ubiquitous flags, signs and coats of arms, it is very easy to see which district you are in. The very strong neighbourhood ties and local patriotism of each contrade are something unparalleled in Italy. It is rumoured that a relationship with someone from outside the district is still seen as a bit of a misalliance. Representatives of the contrade take part in the famous Palio – the horse races around the main Piazza del Campo square. It is a major festival held twice a year – on 2 June and 16 August. The Palio riders are treated almost like famous footballers. The square is also very unusual – semi-circular and sloping. It was built on the remains of an ancient Roman amphitheatre.
The perfect complement to aimless wandering around the city is good food. Tuscany has perhaps one of Italy’s most meat-based cuisines. Therefore, I would like to recommend two restaurants that I managed to test while in Siena: Antica Trattoria Papei and Osteria La Sosta di Violante.
Travel Palette of Siena
In Italy, I miss the golden Polish autumn and its colors. However, one day in Siena made me feel a bit of a fall atmosphere. It turned out that the city has beautiful warm colors. First of all, a warming burnt sienna. Yes, this color is named after the city. An enveloping and aromatic saffron. The mild tan provides a beautiful background for the other, more vibrant colors. Did you know that the Polish language lacks many terms for shades of the color brown? The English name “tan” means the color of tanned leather. In Polish, it is simply light brown. Misty pink, on the other hand, adds a dreamy atmosphere of dawn and dusk.
The capital was the last stop on my Iceland trip (gallery). After two weeks in the middle of stunning nature, a walk around Reykjavík turned out to be a completely different experience. I think we already get used to the emptiness, space and desertedness. And since our road trip was quite intense, we decided to spend the last three days in Iceland wandering around without a specific (tourist) destination and eating well.
The capital
The capital region is home to two-thirds of the country’s population, which is only 222,500 people. You can imagine that it is not the largest city. That’s why a walk around Reykjavik is very relaxing. Even despite the cold weather. The city lacks the rush of other European capitals. The streets are bustling but without the noise of cars (maybe because most of them are electric?). Restaurants and bars are full of people and good food – I particularly recommend Braud & Co and Forréttabarinn. Although the city plan is not regular, Reykjavik gives the impression of being very structured thanks to its uniform architecture. Whether it is traditional wooden houses, industrial buildings or modern architecture, we can see that symmetry and rhythm are maintained. A beautiful contrast to the whole is the ubiquitous, energising street art.
Travel Palette of Reykjavik
The city repeats the country’s natural colors – dark, silvery and cold. But we can also notice other strong colors, especially present in street art and architectural details. The most common of these is red.
The photo session in Milan was a gift from Paweł to Ewelina on the occasion of their wedding anniversary. They love to travel together, especially in Italy. This time, it was the first trip with an enlarged family. That’s why we set the program of photos and places visited much earlier, taking into account the needs of the young mother and the toddler. We started our photo walk at the Duomo and the Galleria Victor Emmanuel II – Milan’s signature landmark. We also entered the Museo del Novecento (Museum of the 20th Century). Not many people know that its floor offers a beautiful view of the cathedral (without the crowds of tourists!). We then walked through Via dei Mercanti e Via Dante to reach the Sforza Castle and Sempione Park. Fortunately, our little model turned out to be very patient and I was also able to take some photos of my parents.
Preserving the privacy of my clients is very important to me. That is why, at the request of the parents, I do not publish photos with the recognizable face of my daughter.
Initially, we were supposed to meet in Milan. After the conversation, Klaudia, Mateusz and little Fado changed their minds and decided to come to Liguria. Were you surprised by such a decision? Milan is a stunning city. However, you will not find there narrow streets with colorful houses. In the spring they are still quite empty, so it allows you to pose freely. There is no sea, which is enchanting, regardless of the weather and creates a beautiful background for photos. The atmosphere is a little nostalgic and a little electrifying, with the promise of sunshine and summer. All this is definitely favorable for romantic shots.
We chose two locations. Photos from the first day in Boccadasse can be seen here. While the next day, despite the uncertain weather, we had a photo shoot in Camogli. In my opinion, it is one of the most beautiful towns of the eastern Ligurian riviera. Why? The colorful houses are lined up in a row right on the beachfront. But the first contact with the sea is the church built by the cliff and the small fortress of defense. There is no shortage of charming narrow streets. And a small, hidden harbor full of boats invites you to sail out to sea. The name of the town has a very romantic origin. Sailors going to sea would leave their wives in a common house – Casa de moglie, which literally means “wife’s house” in Italian.
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