Rome in the 1970s: A Decade of Turbulent Change
Aug. 24, 2024 in Photography & Visuals by Julian Everett
In the 1970s, Rome underwent a profound transformation, moving away from the idyllic existence of "la dolce vita" towards a harsher reality. Stephan Brigidi, reflecting on his experiences from his first visit to the city as a student in 1972, recalls a time when life was still relatively simple. However, change was in the air.
By 1975, the atmosphere in Rome had shifted noticeably. Young Romans, once optimistic about their futures, began to express frustration over the lack of genuine professional opportunities. Unemployment was on the rise, and discontent manifested in frequent protests and strikes. The situation took a darker turn as the decade progressed, with the emergence of internal terror.
The late 1970s saw the rise of the infamous Red Brigades, a determined group of disaffected youth who had dropped out of college and were committed to sparking a revolution against what they viewed as the corrupt central Roman government. Tensions escalated across Italy, and the once-satisfying pleasures of good food and simple songs no longer seemed enough to placate the Roman spirit. The post-war era of revival and innocence had come to a definitive end.
