Day 16 & Thursday Doors, 16/4/20: Via Larga, Viterbo

• Manja Maksimovič

I cannot get over the last normal day. I was discovering amazing Viterbo and its many doors for the first time. Here are some of them and a poem about its happiest street.

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Prompt 16: “Today we challenge you to write a poem of over-the-top compliments. Pick a person, place, or thing you love, and praise it in the most effusive way you can.” 

Well, I could have gone more over the top but I wished to keep it real, as I do. This is the last town I visited almost two months ago, Viterbo in Lazio, and one of its tiny streets with the large name that you probably wouldn’t even notice. Flavia and I did.

Via Larga

I love you, Via Larga.
I love the entire Viterbo around you,
but I love you the most.
You are large by name but really tiny,
rich in colours
but fully unremarkable,
with a door at the end
that made me grin
like a Gypsy at white bread
and feel that I was in the right place
with the right person
who became giddier
and chattier in you too,
Via Larga,
although we had already been in excellent mood.
We agreed that you were something else,
that others could have
Champs-Élysées,
Via del Tritone,
Las Ramblas,
Čopova,
but we would always have you,
that door with the gelato,
a bunch of goofy photos
and even a video
since she didn’t notice
that the recording had started.
You took us in like sisters,
Via Larga.
You were born for us
and we were reborn in you.
We looked at you as if you were Goddess,
she up above at the windows,
I dead ahead at the doors,
and we were happy
and didn’t need
anything other than that it would last.
And then it didn’t.

  • Next to this door we bought gelato.
  • Property of B. Marcucci. Opposite this door starts Via Larga.
  • Here it is. Colourful and cheerful and short.
  • The first door in the street.
  • The more orangey side.
  • This street breathes.
  • It doesn’t care at all for appearances.
  • This Renault 4 fits in perfectly. This was an extremely popular car in Yugoslavia. In Slovenia they produced some parts for them (maybe still?).
  • Rounded, flakey, pipey, haphazard.
  • I told Scooj once that we don’t have this kind of cellar doors around here. Lying, obviously.
  • Then the winner door was spotted.
  • I wanted to channel the feeling that only gelato AND such a door together can give. Photo: Flavia
  • Posing done, back to gelato business. Photo: Flavia
  • The street ends with this building.
  • And this modern dungeon.
  • A look back at Via Larga and a part of Flavia. Be well, happy street.

For Day 16 of NaPoWriMo 2020

and

for Norm Frampton’s Thursday Doors challenge

53 thoughts on “Day 16 & Thursday Doors, 16/4/20: Via Larga, Viterbo”

  7. Omg, you and your doors! There is something extremely sweet about it, you just love them, you are fond of doors🤣
    By the way I agree on the fact that this street was really something, coloured, old fashioned, peaceful and very peculiar 💪😊

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

      1. To tell you the truth I also thought crazy, but do you know that say… only a fool can recognize another one! 💪😅👯‍♂️ I know I will always be in good company with you, this is why we have so much fun❤️🤣

        Liked by 2 people

  9. Most atmospheric doors, great poem…a bit of sorrow with
    “and we were happy
and didn’t need
anything other than that it would last.
And then it didn’t.”

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  10. “And then it didn’t.” 😢 This last line in your poem closes like a cellar door–it’s a little heartbreak, right there. Beautiful Thursday doors, as always–and what amazing colors on Via Larga.😍

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  11. Your poem and photos brought this simple street to life for all of us 🙂

    How is belle Italy doing these days? With the virus firmly entrenched in Canada now, we no longer hear news about Italy and the rest of the world. Are you nudging closer to returning to some semblance of normalcy soon?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  14. The Marcucci door appeals to me so much, but I do love the winner door. And I love the woman in green in front of the door. The best thing about this post was the sunshine and exploration it offered me, while I sit at home in the rain. I did need to take a trip out this morning. Thank you for that.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
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