Today, we're joining Fabrizio, also known as @Martealpianodisopra, at his home in Milan. He lives in a beautiful, classic Italian apartment with his cat : Noodles.
Who are you Fabrizio ?
My name is Fabrizio, well, actually no, in reality my name is Marte, and if we have to be honest, it's “Marte al piano di sopra”. By now, I've gotten used to it; everyone calls me that, at least since 2015 when I started my blog. Over time, many have asked me why "martealpianodiospra," but fundamentally the answer is simple; it's a tribute to imagination, to mental "daydreams," to desires. Marte symbolizes exactly that, symbolizes all the daily mental escapes that come to you when you least expect them, while waiting at a traffic light, in line at the post office, in those ten seconds when you find yourself alone in an elevator, escapes that sometimes appear so complex and distant that it feels like you're leaving for another planet, namely Marte. But in reality, it's just the mind traveling; we stay there with our heads and dry mouths, in our "upstairs/ sopra”.
I can't describe myself in 3 words, but my favorites are: Mellifluous, Bearded, Addiction. P.S. People also call me "Zizzi"
A must-have item in your bag ?
In my bag, you should never be without a lighter; you can always find a cigarette, but if you really want to smoke and you're missing a lighter, well, that's a real drama. A Moleskine with blank pages, a passport, a good book, and a few excuses to use at the right moment should never be missing.
Last movie you saw?
I just watched one of Elio Petri's masterpieces, “Indagine di un cittadino al di sopra di ogni sospetto” with the extraordinary Gian Maria Volontè. In reality, I've seen a few others lately, but I don't remember them that well.
Do you think cowboys can live in the city?
Absolutely yes, cowboys are an attitude; they are the campfires in July, a way of seeing things, a constant search for something that isn't there and may never be.
T-shirt or Shirt?
Both.
Italy in one word?
Fritto Misto.
The soundtrack of your life?
Above all, "Il tuffatore," a song by Flavio Giurato. But also hundreds of other albums, EPs, and artists of all genres. Music plays a fundamental role in my life.
Your icon?
Adam Driver, Jack Nicholson, Yves Saint Laurent, Devendra Banhart, Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, and I'll stop there.
What bores you?
Potentially everything, but often boring things can become quite entertaining.
Your recurring dream?
A day in August from a few years ago. The scent of wet fields after one of those brief summer thunderstorms, crickets, stripes, a tan, and a life teacher I won't mention who often comes to visit me.
What was your last meal?
Uh, good question, haha, I honestly don't remember, but I think it was a “Toast”, one of my favorite meals.
Your quiet space.
The Basque coast, without a doubt. Then there's also my house in Milan; it's a shelter, a place I love that manages to give me tranquility at any moment. I also love airports, but I hate flying; they make me feel good, though. They take me back to when I was a child and started traveling the world with my parents. Walking in an airport is a bit like unwrapping a gift; you have expectations and fantasize about what will happen in a few hours.
To whom would you like to write a letter?
To Mattia Torre, an author who changed my life in many ways. Unfortunately, I never met him, but I would like to be able to tell him many things. I've imagined our conversation many times, and it's a shame that it can never happen, at least in this life.
A piece of art you want to steal.
Gustave Caillebotte's 'Les raboteurs de parquet'.
Your favorite drink.
Franciacorta.
Words you want to carve into a tree?
"Up with life, down with reminiscence."