Corte Palasio – and two glasses of water
It wasn’t anything different. Hot summer day, after a long ride on the green bike I finally rolled in to Corte Palasio, straight to the mansion seen in the film. The gates were closed, so were the yellow french windows. I sat down at the exact same bench in the front to rest my legs when the gate opened. The old lady greeted me – … Continue reading Corte Palasio – and two glasses of water
“Andiamo, Americano!”
Reviving Elio’s and Oliver’s bike rides in Cremona was not only enjoyable but unforgettable. 120 kilometers by bike, the blue-yellow-green painting around me, awesome people, stunning adventures and sights… Here are some of the best moments from the well known locations of the film. Continue reading “Andiamo, Americano!”
Fontanile Quarantina – “This is my spot”
If Elio would take us today to his secret spot, we would ride the bike along this dirt road from Capralba to Fontanile Quarantina: Once we leave our bikes in the shade of trees the little clearwater pond reveals itself to us surrounded by the embrace of the cove: And here are the witnesses of the first kiss, the grass, the cicadas and the sun … Continue reading Fontanile Quarantina – “This is my spot”
Ricengo – Laghetto dei Riflessi
When in the film we hear people going to swim at the river we would suppose that it is about the Serio river. Luca Guadagnino takes us to a little hidden gem near Crema instead, to Laghetto dei Riflessi. The Pond of Reflections is in Ricengo, meaning a half an hour bike ride along the river to the beautiful Park Serio, a protected bird- and … Continue reading Ricengo – Laghetto dei Riflessi
Montodine – “Later, Perlmans!”
It just takes a few minutes walk or a short bike ride from the Albergoni Villa of Moscazzano, known as the Perlmans’ house to get to Montodine. It is mentioned at the breakfast table when Elio comes up with the idea to take Oliver there to open a bank account. However we won’t see them go to Montodine until the very last day. Then we … Continue reading Montodine – “Later, Perlmans!”
The book
I am proud to have many of these editions on my book shelf. But nothing compares to my happiness to have them all in my heart. Continue reading The book
Monet’s Berm
The importance of Monet’s Berm will only make sense once one went through the entire story of Elio and Oliver in André Aciman’s novel. I was, initially, just looking for that postcard from the Monet’s Berm, the one thing Oliver has taken with him when he left B for New York at the end of that summer. The postcard that decades later was till hanging … Continue reading Monet’s Berm
“Cor cordium”
Walking from the Piazza De Amicis towards the edge, there’s the Marabutto with the gorgeous view of the Cape Sant’Ampelio – the southernmost point of the Italian Riviera, the one that divides Riviera dei Fiori from the San Remo Bay. We can hear the conversation from three decades ago: “Just take a look at this” he said as we ambled with our bikes in the … Continue reading “Cor cordium”
La piazzetta of confessions
I arrived to B on a warm late afternoon. After a refreshing stroll around the lower town and then to the hills, I walked up to the piazzetta of confessions – overviewing the sea – where thirty years ago on a sunny morning Elio found the courage to give up his secrets to Oliver, to the palm trees and to the sea-breeze. Next morning – … Continue reading La piazzetta of confessions
Piave Memoriale
When I walked up from the piazzetta to the statue there was an old man sitting on one of the benches around the memorial. I unavoidably thought the same as Elio did three decades ago here, how many of them “still remembered the young men they’d lost on the Piave River.” And then immediately I would add those thirty years to that moment and realize: … Continue reading Piave Memoriale
"Somewhere in northern Italy" 