Dear Charming Rome,
Flooded with fast tourism, I promise that my month-long, authentic visit will attempt to let you breathe. As a Scottish honours student of Italian, I find joy in learning about your country’s rich beauty. From Dante’s Inferno to Italian luxury fashion, I understand that ecology lies at the foundations. Last semester, I had the pleasure of taking the module ‘Italian Ecologies’, which challenged my view on Italy’s landscape and our place as humans inhabiting the earth.
In our 21st century anthropocentric world, let us not forget the importance of the tuscan pencil conifers, the snowy mountain peaks of the Apennines, and the smile-inducing sun that radiates from above. For all are dwelling this earth for more purpose than ours alone. My philosophy is to take care of nature as it takes care of us.
I’ll land in Rome in the midst of July, and I can vividly anticipate the crowds of tourists surrounding the Trevi Fountain for an Instagram-perfect moment. I hear your silent scream that the Trevi Fountain stands to be admired, appreciated and studied… not for posing, posting and boasting. This is the sad essence of fast tourism, an assassination of your city’s historic charm. Please do not fear my visit the way you fear these crowds. I will take care of you, as you take care of me.
Slow tourism is at the forefront for my summer visit. I will not look to the infamous TikTok videos for ‘the best bowl of pasta’, instead I will trust your local Roman’s recommendation for a tasty trattoria dinner. Even better, I will learn to cook your regional dishes from home, including my beloved Cacio e Pepe. I visited your Northern friend, Florence, for a few months last year, and my Sicilian friend kindly taught me how to cook pasta al dente and all-things Florentine local. I promise to follow this mindful lead, and take care of you, as I did Florence.
I visit you for an Italian language course with Scudit (https://www.scudit.net). I know how much you detest AirBNB’s and the effects they have on your sustainability, therefore I have chosen to reside in the language school’s student accommodation building in the city center. Your city’s Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP) makes it clear that private transport can negatively impact your environment. My accommodation is in walking distance to the campus, and where necessary I shall make use of your e-bikes. I will consciously not be using taxi services or private transport as I am visiting to appreciate you, not to cause damage.
As you are playfully nicknamed “La Regina dell’acqua”, I note the importance of skipping bottled water and quenching my thirst instead from your many drinking water fountains across the city (the ‘nasoni’). Not only does this ritual make me feel extremely culture immersed, but is also in line with the sixth UN Sustainable Development Goal.
Do not fear me, for I will protect your beauty. Ti prometto.
Cordialmente,
Your Sustainable Friend
