In the 1980s, Italy moved to its own rhythm—unhurried, sun-soaked, and rich with everyday beauty. The country had not yet been swept up in the fast pace of globalization.
Instead, its cities and towns carried a lived-in elegance, where life unfolded in piazzas, on café terraces, and along narrow, timeworn streets.
This was a decade where routine was savored, not rushed, and photographer Charles H. Traub arrived at just the right moment to capture it.
Agrigento, 1981.
Though Traub has spent decades documenting the world with his distinctive lens, it was Italy that left a lasting mark on his creative life.
His first visit during the early 1980s would spark a series of return trips over several years, each time spending two to three weeks immersed in the country’s street life.
From Milan to Naples, Palermo to Venice, Traub wandered with his camera, drawn not to monuments or formal portraits, but to fleeting expressions, bold gestures, and spontaneous moments of joy and ease.
Venice, 1981.
He titled the body of work La Dolce Via—a playful twist on the phrase La Dolce Vita, meaning “the sweet life.”
Traub, this wasn’t just a poetic label. It was an honest reflection of what he saw: people living life out in the open, in full color, with an ease that felt both grounded and exuberant.
The energy of the streets—the laughter, flirtation, fashion, and food—was not something staged for tourists. It was simply the Italian way of life. Traub calls his work from this period “a time capsule” to an Italy that no longer exists.
As Italy shifted to meet the pressures of a changing global economy, the easy tempo and spontaneous social life he once photographed became harder to find.
Rome, 1980.
Economically, the country experienced a wave of modernization. Northern industrial cities like Milan and Turin saw increased investment, leading to a surge in fashion, design, and media industries.
Italy’s luxury brands began gaining international recognition, and Milan emerged as a global capital of style.
There was a new appetite for wealth, modernity, and self-expression—especially among the urban middle class. Television, advertising, and pop culture began to reshape public perception of lifestyle and success.
Naples, 1981.
Yet, this economic progress was not evenly distributed. The North-South divide remained stark, with many southern regions still grappling with poverty, underdevelopment, and emigration.
The informal economy was widespread, and youth unemployment, particularly in the South, remained high.
Naples, 1981.
Socially, Italians still held on to deep-rooted traditions—family gatherings, long lunches, religious festivals, and daily rituals like the evening passeggiata (stroll).
Public spaces were central to life: cafés, piazzas, open-air markets, and corner shops were not just places of commerce but of connection.
People talked face to face, often passionately, and life spilled into the streets in a way that felt natural and unforced.
Rome, 1981.
Rome, 1981.
Milan, 1981.
Florence, 1981.
Rome, 1982.
Naples, 1982.
Rome, 1982.
Naples, 1982.
Florence, 1982.
Reggio Emilia, 1983.
Naples, 1985.
(Photo credit: Courtesy of Charles Traub / Damiani via www.charlestraub.com / We recommend to purchase his book linked in the intro).