Siena: Singing from balconies

Italians have been singing from their balconies across empty streets to lift spirits and pass the time during quarantine.

Picture source: MBS news

Videos of Italian neighbours singing together have been appearing on social media after Italy’s prime minister Giuseppe Conte announced a nationwide lockdown that began this week. Virtually all daily life has been shut down, with only grocery stores, banks and pharmacies opening their doors.

A video shared on Twitter, by user @valemercurii, shows residents in the Tuscan city of Siena. It recorded a deserted street during the night, while people are singing Canto della Verbena (And While Siena Sleeps) – a popular patriotic folk song.

Similar posts have emerged from cities including Naples as well as Salerno, where people sang the country’s national anthem from their balconies.

This story was shared by Job Zomerplaag, a Dutch student in Urban Studies.