Campanilismo

[The Lawspeaker]

Campanilismo

The word campanilismo, which doesn’t have a specific English translation, derives from campanile (bell tower). The campanile, traditionally the tallest and most prominent building in any town or village, has become, in the concept of campanilismo, an enduring symbol of devotion to, and love of ones region, city, town, village or even quartiere (quarter, small district of a town).

Campanilismo is a very important aspect of life in Italy symbolizing a sense of identity, of pride, and of belonging to the place of your birth, a feeling which is usually much stronger to an Italian than any sense of national identity. An Italian will say “sono romagnolo” (I’m from the region of Romagna), “sono veneziana”(I’m from Venice), or “sono napoletano” (I’m from Naples), before saying “sono italiano/a” (I’m Italian).

In order to explain campanilismo you have to remember that Italy is a very young nation having been created between 1860 and 1870. Before that time there existed only a multitude of small separate states, often fighting amongst themselves, each one with it’s own language, dialect or traditions. These days, despite Italy’s political unification and the effects of mass media which has to a certain extent homogenized Italian life, campanilismo continues to exist. There are still deeply rooted rivalries between different regions, provinces, towns, and quartieri, and one only has to witness the famous Palio di Siena, an intense ‘battle’ of a horse race between the different contrade (district factions) of Siena to understand the depth of feeling evoked by campanilismo, these sentiments are so strong in fact that it is almost considered a sacrilege in Siena to marry someone from one of the rival contrade.

In Lucca, a mere 20 minutes drive from Pisa, a common saying is “E’ meglio avere un morto in casa che un pisano alla porta” (It’s better to have a dead body in your house than a person from Pisa at your door). Driving between Lucca and Pisa you will notice that most of the road signs with the word PISA on them have been ‘adorned’ with the grafitti “PISA M***A” (unprintable word, but you can use your imagination). The same goes for the return journey during which you will find all the signs to Lucca have been converted to “LUCCA M***A”!

Campanilismo also symbolizes an adherence to the traditions, customs and dialects of ones own region. Apart from the usual religious or national festivals that are celebrated throughout Italy each region or town will have it’s own particular celebrations, often religious in nature, but also relating to historical events or culinary traditions such as the sagre (local food festivals) which are held throughout the summer.

Of course to a campanilista (someone who follows the philosophy of campanilismo) anyone who isn’t originally from their little part of the world is a forestiero/a (outsider, related to the word fuori = outside), and someone like myself, who although originally Italian has lived for many years all’estero (abroad) in England, will always be referred to as l’inglese (the English)!

[gıulıoımpa]

Totally Correct.

I wish it would be a translatable term i English but there is not an equivalent.

The funny fact is that although Tuscany has been together for quite a long time (Duchy of Tuscany and Grand Duchy) they still are probably tbe ones with the most bitter rivalties, so they probably originated in the comunal period

Inviato dal mio SM-G389F utilizzando Tapatalk

[MinervaItalica]

I've also strong ties with my birthplace and where i've spent my childhood but i define myself Italian. In my few travels in Italy i've seen many times a lot of Italian flags displayed out of the windows and not only during national holidays to think that Campanilismo is actually something to be worried about. However it is annoying and stupid.

I think something similar also happens in other countries in Europe even if it is not called "Campanilismo".

[Longbowman]

I've had it in my profile under 'politics' for a while now. Does that have anything to do with this thread?

[The Lawspeaker]

I've had it in my profile under 'politics' for a while now. Does that have anything to do with this thread?

Actually, yes. I recognised the term and looked for an article that I had in my expansive archive so I could post it here.

[Percivalle]

In Lucca, a mere 20 minutes drive from Pisa, a common saying is “E’ meglio avere un morto in casa che un pisano alla porta” (It’s better to have a dead body in your house than a person from Pisa at your door).

This was born originally in the Papal States and was referred originally only to people from Marche, because tax collectors in the Papal States were usually from Marche, and Tax collectors were often portrayed as being evil.


This is the original version:

"Meglio un morto in casa che un marchigiano alla porta".


In a short, Campanilismo is the inner Italian identity.

[The Lawspeaker]

It reminds me a bit of the inter-city and inter-province rivalries that we have here. The West vs. the Rest. Den Bosch vs. Oss. The Hague and Rotterdam vs. Amsterdam. Limburg and Brabant vs. Holland.

[Seya]

this is all very true...people are very attached to the birth place or more..to their parents birth place. if u ask in italy where are u from? he's gonna answer..i was born in Napoli but i'm originary from Caserta..meaning the parent are coming from there. romania is also a young nation and each region has its own identity..the only difference is that romanian principalities were never in conflict but always tried to unite

[MinervaItalica]

Rivalries and fights between historic states of the same present day country were everywhere in Europe during history. France was divided in different kingdoms and duchies, the true unification is only at the end of the Hundred Years War, yet some parts of it were part of Savoy until 1860. Spain was also divided into different kingdoms. I don't even want to talk about Germany, its historic states fought each other many times, the Thirty Years War is a classic example.