Italians

Claudio Casadei earns his living by renting umbrellas and sunbeds on the beach at Rimini, Italy's biggest holiday resort. He's called a 'bagnino' and his whole family works with him at beach 72. Claudio has been observing Italians at play …

Dino Labriola runs the small town of Montemilone in the deep south. He was elected the first Communist mayor. Now he faces the problems of a town dying on its feet. There are no jobs, the young emigrate, the old have given up hope and gove…

Mirella D'Angelo was already one of Italy's top models when at 18 she first went into films. She's been cast as thief, princess, gambler and stripteaser. She's just played a sorceress opposite a former Mr Universe in Hercules. Ten years an…

Leonetto Tintori has dedicated 50 years of his life to restoring Italy's early Renaissance masterpieces. Frescoes by Giotto and paintings from the palaces of Florence and Sienna and from small wayside chapels owe their survival to him. He …

Ferruccio Berolo is a passionate enthusiast. About Venice, where he lives. About Venetian food and wine. And about classical dance, which he once performed and now teaches. This is the most important week of Ferruccio's year. He is frantic…

Ciccio Longo is now nearly 80 and has been fishing the Straits of Messina all his life. Here they kill swordfish and tuna with the harpoon. Ciccio's nickname is Piscibonu - the 'good fisherman'. Piscibonu was once champion harpoonist, like…

Giovanna Mazzocchi inherited one of Italy's biggest publishing empires seven years ago when she was just 30. Today Editoriale Domus of Milan is flourishing under the direction of its enterprising young boss. Her magazines cover holidays, f…

Mauro Fiamenghi inhabits two worlds. From Monday to Friday he's involved in angry meetings at the Alfa Romeo car factory near Milan. He's a quality controller on the production line. Mauro is a Communist and in the thick of his union's fig…

Sister Genoveffa Cali has been a nun for 35 years. Her father fought her decision, but she wouldn't be stopped. Becoming a nun was 'like boarding a train to Wonderland'. She has worked with Italian immigrants in Michigan and in a home for …

Natina Manglaviti is 20 and her wedding is just a week away. She lives in a small village high up in the mountains in the southernmost tip of Italy. Her father, Giuseppe, is a peasant farmer cultivating 60 acres. Natina approaches her wedd…