Guitars at the window, Rome switches aperitivo for balcony song in nationwide ‘flash mob’

Record ID: 1463738

  • Title: Guitars at the window, Rome switches aperitivo for balcony song in nationwide ‘flash mob’
  • Date: 13th March 2020
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF PEOPLE CLANGING SAUCEPANS AND CLAPPING ON BALCONIES DURING FLASH MOB
  • Embargoed: 27th March 2020 18:47
  • Keywords: Italy Tutto andrà bene banners banners of hope coronavirus coronavirus outbreak in Italy everything will be alright flashmob lockdown
  • Location: ROME, ITALY
  • City: ROME, ITALY
  • Country: Italy
  • Reuters ID: LVA002C4VZWW7
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: The San Lorenzo and Pigneto districts of Rome are usually buzzing with university students drowning their sorrows with aperitivo on a Friday night, but under lockdown on March 13, instead the only sound was of the national anthem blaring from windows as Italians up and down the country came together for a 'flash mob' to raise morale in an increasingly difficult time.
    No-one is allowed outside in the countrywide coronavirus lockdown - people can only move around for work, health needs or emergencies and anyone outside must keep a distance of at least one metre.
    But on Friday (March 13) evening at 6:00 p.m. (1700 GMT), Italians found an alternative way of enjoying the end of a week stuck at home - by taking to their windows and balconies playing instruments, singing and clapping together to try and bring some hope to the end of a tough week.
    The national anthem 'Fratelli d'Italia' was blared out of speakers up and down the country and families sang along cheering from their balconies, clanging together saucepans, for a moment of respite.
    The flashmob was organised on social media spread through WhatsApp.
    (Production: Yara Nardi, Guglielmo Mangiapane, Cristiano Corvino, Emily Roe)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2020. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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