Sassari winter stroll

street photography
Written By Giovanni Piliarvu

Coming back to my hometown of Sassari is always a unique experience. This time, I chose to wander through the historic center, camera in hand, mirroring my habitual strolls in Tokyo. Yet, here in Sassari, the experience is markedly different. I'm not just a discreet observer as I am in Japan; in these familiar streets, I feel like I'm an integral part of the scene.

During the pre-Christmas season, Sassari's main streets bustle with life, yet the city maintains its usual calm, adorned with modest Christmas lights. The less-frequented back alleys, with fewer shops, remain unchanged. Old buildings are bathed in warm light that spills through the narrow lanes. As evening falls, this light casts a nostalgic glow on the walls and buildings that have been a backdrop to my life since childhood. I remember walking these streets with my father, enjoying ice cream in this historic center. Unlike the relentless pace of modern Tokyo, time in Sassari flows more gently, like an old friend warmly welcoming me home.

A dark-colored dog with a studded collar sits patiently by a metal garage door on a cobblestone sidewalk next to a parked car.
A rustic building with peeling yellow facade and two windows, one reflecting the sun, with a wooden door and a no parking sign on the side.
A shadowy street scene with a person in a colorful jacket standing in sunlight, against the backdrop of a ZARA store and other urban buildings.
A tranquil evening sky with subtle shades of purple and blue above the silhouette of bare tree branches.
A parking sign with the letter 'P' against a dusk sky, with buildings with lit windows and balconies in the background
A modern building with vertical lines and patterns on the facade under a deep blue evening sky.
Giovanni Piliarvu https://www.giovannipiliarvu.com
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