Rione IV Campo Marzio in Roma in Città metropolitana di Roma Capitale, Latium, Rome, Italy — Central Italy (Tyrrhenian Coast)
Notturno Romano
⎯⎯⎯
Roman Night
Yannis Ritsos
| — | da Trittico italiano / of Trittico Italiano | — |
Photographed by James Hulse, February 26, 2024
1. Notturno Romano / Roman Night Marker
Notte bella, stanca. Sono le 11. Statue annerite.
È vero che anche le statue anneriscono sotto le ombre e le luci
Piazza di Spagna, Trinità dei Monti. Sulla scala di marmo
giovani turisti s'abbracciano, dormono, fumano. Uno spagnolo
m'ha fatto in fretta lo schizzo, - con un occhio del tutto chiuso,
con un occhio solo (mezzo nascosto mezzo intero) - come se lui sapesse -
e l'altr'occhio tutto aperto nella notte settembrina dell'immensità romana
nel cui corpo formicolavano miriadi di fremiti erotici le stelle.
Roma, 17 settembre 1978
Traduzione di Febo Ghicopoulos
Beautiful, tired night. It’s 11 o’clock. Blackened statues.
It’s true that statues also blacken under the shadows and the lights.
Piazza di Spagna, Trinità dei Monti. On the marble stairs, young tourists embrace, sleep, smoke.
A Spaniard quickly sketched me, with one eye completely closed,
with only one eye (half hidden, half whole)— as if he knew —
while the other eye wide open in
this page online
in whose body swarmed myriad erotic tremors, the stars.
Rome, 17 September 1978
Translation (Italian text) by Febo Ghicopoulos
Όμορφη νύχτα, κουρασμένη, 11 η ώρα. Μαυρισμένα αγάλματα.
Στ' αλήθεια μαυρίζουν και τα αγάλματα κάτω απ' τους ίσκιους και τα φώτα –
Πιάτσα ντι Σπάνια, Τρινιτά ντέι Μόντι. Στή μαρμάρινη σκάλα
νέοι τουρίστες αγκαλιάζονται, κοιμούνται,
Photographed by James Hulse, February 26, 2024
2. Notturno Romano / Roman Night Marker
The view of the marker along the street.
μου 'φτιαξε βιαστικά ένα σκίτσο, - το να μου μάτι ολότελα κλεισμένο,
μόνοφθαλμος (μισός κρυμμένος και μισός δοσμένος) – σαν να 'ξερε εκείνος –
και τ' άλλο μάτι ύλανοιχτο στη Σεπτεμβριάτικη νύχτα της απέραντης Ρώμης
που μές στη σάρκα της μυρμήγκιαζαν
Photographed by James Hulse, June 25, 2023
3. The view of tourist on the Spanish Steps - Piazza di Spagna
Erected 1978 by Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities Ministry of Education Municipality of Rome.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Arts, Letters, Music. A significant historical year for this entry is 1978.
Location. 41° 54.367′ N, 12° 28.937′ E. Marker is in Roma, Lazio (Latium, Rome), in Città metropolitana di Roma Capitale. It is in Rione IV Campo Marzio. It is at the intersection of Piazza di Spagna and Via dei Condott, on the right when traveling north on Piazza di Spagna. The marker is located just north of the Spanish Steps along the street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Piazza di Spagna 22, Roma, Lazio 00187, Italy. Touch for directions.
Regionally, it is in Europe, the European Union, the Schengen Area, a coastal Mediterranean country, and the Western World. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Byzantine Empire and specifically also the Roman Empire.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Spanish Steps / La Scalinata di Trinità dei Monti (a few steps from this marker); The House Where John Keats Died (within shouting distance of this marker); Giovanni Sgambati (within shouting distance of this marker); Church of the Most Holy Trinity of the Mountains (within shouting distance of this marker); Franz Ludwig Catel (within shouting distance of this marker); C'eravamo tanto amati / We All Loved Each Other So Much (about 180 meters away, measured in a direct line); Palazzo di Propaganda Fide / Palace of the Propaganda Fide (about 210 meters away); Gomez Palace Stables / Scuderie di Palazzo Gomez (about 210 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Roma.
More about this marker. The poem evokes the mood of a Roman night, where time, place, and emotions blend into an almost surreal experience. The imagery of blackened statues, the intimacy of young tourists, and the artist’s quick sketch create a vivid portrait of Rome, with its rich history and the undercurrent of sensuality.
Also see . . . Yiannis Ritsos. Wikipedia
Yiannis Ritsos (Greek: Γιάννης Ρίτσος; 1 May 1909 – 11 November 1990) was a Greek poet and communist and an active member of the Greek Resistance during World War II. While he disliked being regarded as a political poet, he has been called "the great poet of the Greek left".(Submitted on January 23, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)
Credits. This page was last revised on March 7, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 20, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 124 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 23, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
