Piera, a resident in Poggio alla Croce
In these last few years a lot has changed
Things were different before, people were simpler
They often came into the centre.
Now they stay at home,
the village is less lived in.
Before we were all concentrated on my shop.
Most of the world,
most of life took place around it.
A place to meet, to understand each other,
maybe argue with different opinions
but still have a dialogue. That was life,
in my view that really was.
Andrea, who conceived the welcoming project
Poggio alla Croce could be defined
as “a small Switzerland”
Located in a beautiful spot
between Chianti and Valdarno
Residents are busy at work
and like to collaborate.
In summer a nice festival is organized
attracting people from both valleys
When problems arise, like with ice in winter,
informations flow over the internet.
Looked like and ideal place
Then in April 2017 the “bomb” went off:
thirty migrants to be hosted in the “palace”,
a former hotel middle of village
It sounded as if a spaceship full
of little black men was about to land
Black men are coming. Black men are coming.
We are all with our hairs raised,
very worried, me too to be honest because
you hear a lot of good
but also bad about these youngsters
The strongest reaction, intense and wide,
was an immediate refusal,
a “belly” reaction that caused
an immediate decision
to collect signatures against,
in less than three days
230 signatures were collected
Even though the Poggio’s residents
are around 190.