Hi, I’m Gianluca.
I studied cultural anthropology, and I’ve always been fascinated by the different ways people live, move, and experience a place.
Rome is not only my city – it’s the environment I love observing, understanding, and sharing through these small stories.
Together with my wife Connie, we host travellers in our small hotel near the Vatican, where we enjoy meeting people from all over the world and exchanging perspectives – just as I do here in the blog.
If you ever feel like saying hello while exploring Rome, you’ll find us on our terrace as well, where every morning we serve breakfast with a view.
Gianluca
On April 25, 2020, the Frecce Tricolori, Italy’s renowned aerobatic team, performed a flyover of Rome as part of the celebrations for Liberation Day. This national holiday commemorates the end of the Nazi occupation in Italy and the fall of Fascism in 1945. The event took place during the COVID-19 pandemic, a period marked by strict lockdown measures, which gave the flyover a unique and somewhat poignant atmosphere.
The Frecce Tricolori are based at Pratica di Mare, a military airport south of Rome. Established in 1961, they are one of the most famous aerobatic teams in the world, known for their precision flying and complex formations. The team has become a symbol of Italian aviation excellence and regularly performs at national and international events.
The 2020 flyover began with the team entering the city from the south. They passed over key landmarks, starting with the Altare della Patria in Piazza Venezia, and continued along Via del Corso towards Piazza del Popolo. After reaching Piazza del Popolo, the jets turned right over Villa Borghese, flew past the Quirinale Palace, and then directed their path towards the Vatican, passing over notable sites such as the Pantheon and Piazza Navona.
One of the key moments of the flyover was when the jets passed directly over St. Peter’s Basilica and the nearby QuodLibet B&B, offering a rare aerial perspective of the area. The jets then circled back, retracing their route over Piazza del Popolo and Via del Corso before concluding the flyover by passing over the Altare della Patria and the Campidoglio once again.
This flyover occurred during a time when the streets of Rome were uncharacteristically empty due to the lockdown, creating an unusual contrast between the typically bustling city and the serene skies above. Residents watched from their windows and balconies as the Frecce Tricolori completed their circuit, a reminder of Rome’s historical continuity even in unprecedented times.
For those interested in aviation history, the Frecce Tricolori represent a significant chapter in Italy’s post-war history. The team, officially known as the 313th Acrobatic Training Group, was established to serve as a symbol of Italy’s recovery and to showcase the skills of its air force pilots. Over the years, the Frecce Tricolori have performed across the globe, earning a reputation for their synchronized aerial displays and the distinctive tricolor smoke trails they leave in their wake.
As you explore Rome, whether in person or through historical accounts, events like the 2020 flyover serve as a reminder of the city’s ability to adapt and endure through various chapters of history. At QuodLibet, we invite our guests to discover these layers of history, offering a unique perspective on both well-known and hidden facets of the Eternal City.
