Dear travellers,
i’ll admit, there was a time when I didn’t fully love Italy. Over the years, I saw it changing in ways that felt distant from who I was, a beautiful country, yes, but increasingly willing to trade away part of its soul.

Then in 2017, I left to live overseas, and from that distance, something shifted. I began to see Italy not just with my eyes, but with my heart. Every time I return, I rediscover a country that is not just beautiful—but deeply alive.

Following the recent 2026 referendum on justice, which protected our Constitution, I’ve come to believe something even more, Italy is rich.

Rich in young, independent voices, rich in passion, rich in the desire for change.

This renewed energy reminds me of a time very close to my heart, the late 1970s, when free FM radio stations began spreading across Italy. As a teenager in a small southern town, I experienced this firsthand through local stations like Radio CSM and Radio Kings. These were humble setups—small rooms, apartments, even basements, but they were alive with creativity. Through rock, punk, and jazz, emotions found their voice. Listeners could call in live—from home, from bars, from their cars—becoming part of the broadcast.

Free radio became a powerful space for expression, a vibrant mix of music, storytelling, political debate, satire, and culture. It gave young people a voice—and a platform to be heard.

The 1970s in Italy were a time of intense social and cultural change. A season in turmoil, during which Italy reflected on both its present and past, ready to be heard through the Free Radio. It was a real Revolution made up of young and free voices.

This energy had been building since the 1960s, with growing student and workers’ movements demanding more direct access to communication. At the time, the state broadcaster RAI held a strict monopoly and did not reflect the diversity of voices emerging in society. Free radio stations, initially illegal, were born as a response a challenge to centralized control and a step toward freedom of expression.

It’s worth remembering that radio in Italy dates back to 1923, under the guide of minister Costanzo Ciano, during the Fascist regime of Benito Mussolini. It was quickly recognized as a powerful tool for propaganda, with tightly controlled programming aligned with government messaging. Not surprisingly Benito Mussolini gave his first Radio address in 1926.

A major turning point came on July 28 1976, when the Constitutional Court legalized private broadcasting.

This opened the door to a new era of free expression, new spaces of freedom were born. Stations like

• “Radio Alice” (Bologna),
• “Radio Città Futura”,
• “Radio Raptus”,
• and “Onde Ribelli”

were among the pioneers—independent, self-managed, and driven by passion rather than resources.

For those who’d like to explore this era further, I recommend two iconic films:

• “Radio Freccia” by Luciano Ligabue
• “The Hundred Steps” by Marco Tullio Giordana, featuring the story of anti-mafia activist Peppino Impastato and his Radio Out.

A final thought from me: Even in a world that often feels divided, it doesn’t take much to feel closer—sometimes, all it takes is a voice, a place, and the willingness to listen.

The song “La Radio” by Eugenio Finardi (1977) perfectly captures that spirit:

”I love the radio because it reaches people,
it enters homes and speaks directly to us.
And when a radio is truly free,
I love it even more — because it frees the mind”.

Sign up for our newsletter to stay up-to-date on events, courses, and promotions…

 

Have a good trip… I’ll see you in the South!

Cinzia