I grew up hanging laundry in the backyard. We had a dryer in the basement, but my mother said there was nothing like the smell of fresh air in your sheets. I haven’t ever seen tourists taking pictures of wash in the United States, on that rare glimpse of swaying fabric in a summer breeze. Laundry in Italy, however, seems to hold a certain fascination.
HANGING LAUNDRY IN ITALY
Wash swaying on lines in Cosenza, Calabria
What’s better than a picturesque old building? That charmingly weathered residence with laundry dangling from its balconies – a sign of life, a freshness, often on a sunny day. Very few Italians have a dryer, un’asciugatrice. About 15% of families own one – the percentage is much lower in the south. As energy costs are quite high in Italy, asciugatrici are seen as an unnecessary expense. In addition, the myth that dryers ruin clothing still knocks around the tumbler.
Drying rags in Cosenza, Calabria
Panno is the word for fabric, cloth, also rag or cleaning cloth and panni is the plural, meaning clothes or laundry. First you lavare (wash) and then stendere i panni, wash and hang clothes.
Colorful wash in Pietrapertosa, Basilicata
You can also fare il bucato or do the wash, the derivation of which is interesting in that bucato is thought to come from a method of washing clothes dating back to medieval times: placing the articles in a terracotta or wooden container, covering it with a cloth full of holes (bucherellato), pouring over a mixture of hot water and ash or lye (acting as a detergent), and then rinsing the panni in the fontana (fountain). Today, we struggle with the electronic panel on our state-of-the-art appliances.
ITALIAN LAUNDRY EXPRESSIONS
Bright whites on the line in Longobucco, Calabria
A common Italian saying regarding the washing is very similar to the English expression: I panni sporchi si lavano in famiglia – literally, one washes dirty clothes within the family. An alternate version: Fare il bucato nella famiglia. As we say in English: Don’t wash your dirty linen (or air your dirty washing) in public. In other words, problems should be solved within the family, in private.
MULTIPURPOSE CLOTHESLINES
At times, you just have to get your laundry out in the sun, even on the day a saintly procession is coming past your house.
Drying wash on procession day in Accettura, Basilicata – note red banners with saint’s image
Or you want to cover your balcony for inclement weather or more importantly for drying peppers and herbs.
A functional balcony in Melfi, Basilicata
Often, you must collaborate with your neighbor across the street when doing laundry in Italy.
Drying clothes in Mammola, Calabria
The sun is shining. Is it my turn?
Clothes on the line in Castelmezzano, Basilicata
Sometimes, the line has better uses.
Drying orange peels in Scilla, Calabria
And then there are moments of rest.
In repose
Join me on one of my comprehensive, small group tours of Calabria or Basilicata. Immerse yourself in the beauty, taste the incredible food, and soak up the culture first hand – and catch your own glimpse of picturesque laundry in Italy! See the detailed itineraries on the Calabria Tour page and Basilicata Tour page.
Read all about the fascinating Calabrian region in my book Calabria: The Other Italy, described by Publisher’s Weekly as “an intoxicating blend of humor, joy, and reverence for this area in Italy’s deep south,” and explore Calabria’s northern neighbor in my book Basilicata: Authentic Italy, “recommended to readers who appreciate all things Italian” by the Library Journal.
Follow me on social media: Basilicata Facebook page, Calabria: The Other Italy’s Facebook page, Karen’s Instagram and Karen’s Twitter for beautiful pictures and information.
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Comments 12
Wonderful insight into such a common task.
Author
Thanks, amazing how it has become so uncommon in most industrialized countries.
Hi Karen,
It is so nice to hang the laundry out. I love to do it whenever I can in Canada. I actually bought a laundry hanger in Rome to bring back to Vancouver.
Author
Wow, good idea, you probably had a much better selection in Rome!
Delightful pictures, and I also loved your comments on the idioms of laundering. Brava!
Author
Grazie!
Thanks so much for this! Having had a vacation home in Calabria since 2004, it’s fun to watch the faces of my friends here in the U.S. when I say one of my favorite things to do in Italy is…laundry. It is very relaxing and has taught me that almost anything we do has the potential for pleasure if we do it mindfully. Your article has captured that perfectly!
Author
Wow – you’ve been part of the Italian laundry scene for almost 20 years! Glad you enjoyed the post and thank you for sharing your personal experience.
I love this look at hanging laundry in Italy. For some reason it’s such an attraction for me to photograph as well when I’m in countries outside the US. There’s something very summer like and communal about seeing laundry waving in the breeze. I’m also loving the use of the laundry line as a dryer for orange peels!
Author
I also love the hanging orange peels, such a practical dual purposing of the line, but it brought a big smile to my face when I saw it.
Laundry on a clothesline is one of my favourite photo subjects-especially if the clothes are white, against an old crumbly background and it is windy! I dry my clothes on my clothesline in Canada as much as possible, but I find it so annoying how few people do this! They don’t even make an effort. I don’t know a single person in Italy who even has a dryer-and I know a lot of people. Hopefully the rain will stop soon and I will be using my clothesline again! Ciao, Cristina
Author
We’ve definitely gotten out of the habit in the US, as well, and many condos have rules against hanging laundry on balconies. The photo potential is clearly lost on them…