--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Italy still has a provincial…" description: "\"“Italy still has a provincial sophistication that comes from its long history as a collection of city states. That, combined with a hot climate, means ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/291/roger-allam-7409_history_italy-still-has-a-provincial-sophisticat_829971.jpg" --- # Italy still has a provincial sophistication that comes… ![“Italy still has a provincial sophistication that comes from its long history as a collection of city states. That, combined with a hot climate, means that the Italians occupy their streets and squares with much greater ease than the English. The resultant street life is very rich, even in small…” quote by Roger Allam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/291/roger-allam-7409_history_italy-still-has-a-provincial-sophisticat_829971.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/291/roger-allam-7409_history_italy-still-has-a-provincial-sophisticat_829971.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/291/roger-allam-7409_history_italy-still-has-a-provincial-sophisticat_829971.jpg) > ““Italy still has a provincial sophistication that comes from its long history as a collection of city states. That, combined with a hot climate, means that the Italians occupy their streets and squares with much greater ease than the English. The resultant street life is very rich, even in small towns like Arezzo and Gaiole, fertile ground for the peeping Tom aspect of an actor’s preparation. I took many trips to Siena, and was struck by its beauty, but also by the beauty of the Siennese themselves. They are dark, fierce, and aristocratic, very different to the much paler Venetians or Florentines. They have always looked like this, as the paintings of their ancestors testify. I observed the groups of young people, the lounging grace with which they wore their clothes, their sense of always being on show. I walked the streets, they paraded them. It did not matter that I do not speak a word of Italian; I made up stories about them, and took surreptitious photographs. I was in Siena on the final day of the Palio, a lengthy festival ending in a horse race around the main square. Each district is represented by a horse and jockey and a pair of flag-bearers. The day is spent by teams of supporters with drums, banners, and ceremonial horse and rider processing round the town singing a strange chanting song. Outside the Cathedral, watched from a high window by a smiling Cardinal and a group of nuns, with a huge crowd in the Cathedral Square itself, the supporters passed, and to drum rolls the two flag-bearers hurled their flags high into the air and caught them, the crowd roaring in approval. The winner of the extremely dangerous horse race is presented with a palio, a standard bearing the effigy of the Virgin. In the last few years the jockeys have had to be professional by law, as when they were amateurs, corruption and bribery were rife. The teams wear a curious fancy dress encompassing styles from the twelfth to the eighteenth centuries. They are followed by gangs of young men, supporters, who create an atmosphere or intense rivalry and barely suppressed violence as they run through the narrow streets in the heat of the day. It was perfect. I took many more photographs. At the farmhouse that evening, after far too much Chianti, I and my friends played a bizarre game. In the dark, some of us moved lighted candles from one room to another, whilst others watched the effect of the light on faces and on the rooms from outside. It was like a strange living film of the paintings we had seen. Maybe Derek Jarman was spying on us.”” [Roger Allam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-allam/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage describes Italy’s vibrant street culture, especially in Siena, where historic festivals like the Palio showcase lively community rituals, distinct regional characters, and a blend of tradition with modern spectacle. **In simple terms:** Italian street life is lively, historic, and full of character. Key Takeaway Observe and appreciate local customs. Themes culture tradition community regional identity festivals Mood nostalgic observational enthusiastic Type descriptive reflective cultural commentary When to use this quote - travel writing - cultural immersion - photography - festival attendance Key Concepts urban anthropology social observation performance art Questions to Reflect On - How do festivals shape regional identity? - What does street life reveal about social cohesion? A Different Perspective The narrative may romanticize and overlook socioeconomic issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Final Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/final-day/) [Florentines Looked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/florentines-looked-550301/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Italian Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/italian-stories-550300/) [Italians Occupy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/italians-occupy-550302/) [Italy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/italy/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Photographs Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photographs-siena-550299/) [Roger-allam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roger-allam-160217/) [Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/siena-170122/) [Small towns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-towns/) [Street life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/street-life/) [Venetians Florentines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/venetians-florentines-550303/) [Young men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-men/) [Young people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-people/) ## Related quotes > [“You made friends with a prickler?" Hawk says, standing just inside the secret opening, apparently having come inside during my story, "I'm confused," Adele…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-estes/you-made-friends-with-a-prickler-hawk-says-standing-just-inside-the/) [David Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-estes/) ## More by Roger Allam > [I don't think there are roles that would attract me to do a long run in the theatre.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-allam/i-don-t-think-there-are-roles-that-would-attract-me-to-do-a-long-run/) [Roger Allam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-allam/) > [I was very proud of doing Falstaff, because it seemed to go well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-allam/i-was-very-proud-of-doing-falstaff-because-it-seemed-to-go-well/) [Roger Allam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-allam/) > [A lot of actors are relatively shy people, surprisingly, so acting is a way of not being shy - and being paid not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-allam/a-lot-of-actors-are-relatively-shy-people-surprisingly-so-acting-is-a/) [Roger Allam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-allam/) > [I like to do a wide variety of things, and acting, particularly in the theatre, has given me that opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-allam/i-like-to-do-a-wide-variety-of-things-and-acting-particularly-in-the/) [Roger Allam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-allam/) > [In the theatre, there were plenty of people having sex all over the place - wanting to, and doing it quite successfully - but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-allam/in-the-theatre-there-were-plenty-of-people-having-sex-all-over-the/) [Roger Allam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-allam/) > [Try not to worry about embarrassing yourself. That's a lifetime's task.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-allam/try-not-to-worry-about-embarrassing-yourself-that-s-a-lifetime-s-task/) [Roger Allam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-allam/) > [At one stage, I wanted to be a folk singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-allam/at-one-stage-i-wanted-to-be-a-folk-singer/) [Roger Allam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-allam/) > [I've never been to Barcelona, I'd like to go there; also South America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-allam/i-ve-never-been-to-barcelona-i-d-like-to-go-there-also-south-america/) [Roger Allam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-allam/) > [I don't know who can constantly afford to go and see things. A play, which has five people in it and one set and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-allam/i-don-t-know-who-can-constantly-afford-to-go-and-see-things-a-play/) [Roger Allam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-allam/) > [I've been choreographed in various musicals before. So I'm not completely two left feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-allam/i-ve-been-choreographed-in-various-musicals-before-so-i-m-not/) [Roger Allam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-allam/) > [Learn your lines so well that you never have to worry about them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-allam/learn-your-lines-so-well-that-you-never-have-to-worry-about-them/) [Roger Allam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-allam/) > [Getting a good education was of immense importance to my parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-allam/getting-a-good-education-was-of-immense-importance-to-my-parents/) [Roger Allam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-allam/) > [Judi Dench told me to shut up once. I was probably going on and on about something, in the way that I do sometimes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-allam/judi-dench-told-me-to-shut-up-once-i-was-probably-going-on-and-on/) [Roger Allam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-allam/) > [I don't get mobbed in the street or bothered. Well, people do stop and say nice things. 'I like 'Endeavour,' or, 'I loved The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-allam/i-don-t-get-mobbed-in-the-street-or-bothered-well-people-do-stop-and/) [Roger Allam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-allam/) > [What I don't believe is that DVDs or HD broadcasts can be a substitute for the real thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-allam/what-i-don-t-believe-is-that-dvds-or-hd-broadcasts-can-be-a/) [Roger Allam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-allam/) [Explore all 90 Roger Allam quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-allam/) ## More History quotes > [Histories never conclude; they just pause their prose. Their stories are, if they are truthful, untidy affairs, resistant to windings-up and sortings-out. They beat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-schama/histories-never-conclude-they-just-pause-their-prose-their-stories/) [Simon Schama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-schama/) > [It is said that history turns on small hinges. A human career, too, results from an accumulating series of decisions about large and small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-is-said-that-history-turns-on-small-hinges-a-human-career-too/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [The history of mankind interests us only as it exhibits a steady gain of truth and right, in the incessant conflict which it records…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-history-of-mankind-interests-us-only-as-it-exhibits-a-steady-gain/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [In the entire history of the universe, let alone in your own history, there has never been another day just like today, and there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/in-the-entire-history-of-the-universe-let-alone-in-your-own-history/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [The NBA is my history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-hardaway/the-nba-is-my-history/) [Penny Hardaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-hardaway/) > [History has often showed us the strength of the forces that are unleashed by the yearning for freedom. It moved people to overcome their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/history-has-often-showed-us-the-strength-of-the-forces-that-are/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [We find few historians who have been diligent enough in their search for truth; it is their common method to take on trust what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/we-find-few-historians-who-have-been-diligent-enough-in-their-search/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [What is history after all? History is facts which become lies in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-cocteau/what-is-history-after-all-history-is-facts-which-become-lies-in-the/) [Jean Cocteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-cocteau/) > [Things live and die, and then someone processes them into edible portions. This is a complete telling of the story, 'Food.' The basic plot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-fahrenthold/things-live-and-die-and-then-someone-processes-them-into-edible/) [David Fahrenthold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-fahrenthold/) > [History is a certain way, but you just change the point of view a little bit, and you discover a whole new side of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-schroeder/history-is-a-certain-way-but-you-just-change-the-point-of-view-a/) [Allison Schroeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-schroeder/) > [We're at a point in history were we have to become a part of the neighborhood of inhabited planets, like a neighborhood of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/we-re-at-a-point-in-history-were-we-have-to-become-a-part-of-the/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [Today is a reality, tomorrow's a promise, and yesterday's history!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-blanks/today-is-a-reality-tomorrow-s-a-promise-and-yesterday-s-history/) [Billy Blanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-blanks/) > [Truth be told from compulsive liars with a history/Everything must change 2nd chances are a mystery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-dash/truth-be-told-from-compulsive-liars-with-a-history-everything-must/) [C-DASH](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-dash/) > [Every army in the history of the world has always had some deserters, usually much greater than we have today, because once again every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-hilferty/every-army-in-the-history-of-the-world-has-always-had-some-deserters/) [Bryan Hilferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-hilferty/) > [“To those great geniuses now in petticoats, who shall write novels for the beloved reader's children, these men and things will be as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/to-those-great-geniuses-now-in-petticoats-who-shall-write-novels-for/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) [Browse all 27,263 History quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Italy still has a provincial sophistication that comes from its long history as a collection of city states. That, combined with a hot climate, means that the Italians occupy their streets and squares with much greater ease than the English. The resultant street life is very rich, even in small towns like Arezzo and Gaiole, fertile ground for the peeping Tom aspect of an actor’s preparation. I took many trips to Siena, and was struck by its beauty, but also by the beauty of the Siennese themselves. They are dark, fierce, and aristocratic, very different to the much paler Venetians or Florentines. They have always looked like this, as the paintings of their ancestors testify. I observed the groups of young people, the lounging grace with which they wore their clothes, their sense of always being on show. I walked the streets, they paraded them. It did not matter that I do not speak a word of Italian; I made up stories about them, and took surreptitious photographs. I was in Siena on the final day of the Palio, a lengthy festival ending in a horse race around the main square. Each district is represented by a horse and jockey and a pair of flag-bearers. The day is spent by teams of supporters with drums, banners, and ceremonial horse and rider processing round the town singing a strange chanting song. Outside the Cathedral, watched from a high window by a smiling Cardinal and a group of nuns, with a huge crowd in the Cathedral Square itself, the supporters passed, and to drum rolls the two flag-bearers hurled their flags high into the air and caught them, the crowd roaring in approval. The winner of the extremely dangerous horse race is presented with a palio, a standard bearing the effigy of the Virgin. In the last few years the jockeys have had to be professional by law, as when they were amateurs, corruption and bribery were rife. The teams wear a curious fancy dress encompassing styles from the twelfth to the eighteenth centuries. They are followed by gangs of young men, supporters, who create an atmosphere or intense rivalry and barely suppressed violence as they run through the narrow streets in the heat of the day. It was perfect. I took many more photographs. At the farmhouse that evening, after far too much Chianti, I and my friends played a bizarre game. In the dark, some of us moved lighted candles from one room to another, whilst others watched the effect of the light on faces and on the rooms from outside. It was like a strange living film of the paintings we had seen. Maybe Derek Jarman was spying on us.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Roger Allam" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-allam/italy-still-has-a-provincial-sophistication-that-comes-from-its-long/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "History" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-allam/italy-still-has-a-provincial-sophistication-that-comes-from-its-long/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/291/roger-allam-7409_history_italy-still-has-a-provincial-sophisticat_829971.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/291/roger-allam-7409_history_italy-still-has-a-provincial-sophisticat_829971.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/291/roger-allam-7409_history_italy-still-has-a-provincial-sophisticat_829971.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Italy still has a provincial sophistication that comes from its long history as a collection of city states…” — Roger Allam", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Roger Allam", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-allam/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Italy still has a provincial sophistication...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-allam/italy-still-has-a-provincial-sophistication-that-comes-from-its-long/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-allam/italy-still-has-a-provincial-sophistication-that-comes-from-its-long/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```