“Isn’t Rome a city for young people? Milan is better for work, but I’m staying here”
Rome it is not a city for young people or even for women. To say it is the ranking on the quality of life in the Italian provinces drawn up by the Sole24Ore which sees the capital lose as many as eighteen positions compared to 2021. Among the causes, the increase in litigation, with a significant increase in the number of civil cases per 100 thousand inhabitants. But not only. Suitable for the elderly – it is in fourth place in the specific ranking – it is not for young people, a chapter in which it falls to the third last step of the classification. Just forty-second position as regards the quality of life of women. We asked Cecilia Cantarano22 years old, Roman, content creator who boasts millions of followers on TikTok and Instagram, to tell us about his vision of the city.
What is life like in Rome today?
«I deeply love Rome, I really feel at home here and not only because it is the city where I was born, but because of the spirit of the people, who are open and warm. This is why I decided to stay and live here, despite the fact that Milan is definitely more useful for my profession. Of course, however, there are lights and shadows…».
What are, in your opinion, the main problems?
“The movements. It takes two hours to get from one end of the city to the other, if you take a plane in the same time you arrive in Paris. It also takes fifty minutes to find parking. Here you enter a strange dimension, where one minute lasts five hours. And if you use public transport to get around it’s even worse. Not to mention the dirt, now widespread everywhere. This makes the city unattractive for tourists and uncomfortable for those who live there».
And what about young people?
“In terms of social life, there’s too much on offer, it’s hard to choose where to go. Sometimes it seems like there’s no one around, just because they’re all scattered. There isn’t just one nightlife area, it’s everywhere. In terms of work, however, things change…».
Are the opportunities few?
«It depends on what you choose to do, but on closer inspection for most of the jobs, Milan is better. In my group we are thirteen friends. There are those who dream of working in management, others in fashion, communication and so on. Everyone wants to go to Milan. Only those who want to be an actor stay in Rome. And then working or studying in Milan ensures a certain credibility, which also applies to Rome when you return. The question is also of image: Milan is the city of work, which is why there are more multinationals».
And how does she do it?
«I travel often, for two years I practically commuted between Rome and Milan. There are more job offers for young people, that’s undeniable. However, in Milan, where I lived for two months, I felt alone, it never happened here. Everyone talks, even at the bar. The other day, I couldn’t park my car, a bricklayer who was working nearby parked it for me. These things only happen here.”
Do you consider it a dangerous city?
“No more than others. I don’t feel in danger. I live near San Pietro, the streets are illuminated and they are small, if something happened I could scream and they would hear me from the houses».
Recently, however, she had a bad experience at the disco and talked about it on social media: someone put drugs in her glass and she ended up in hospital.
«I didn’t think something like this could ever happen, but it did and when I talked about it on social media, I discovered that it happens frequently. Many people have written to me that the same thing had happened to them in other clubs, the same evening. I was terrible, I was scared, fortunately I wasn’t alone but with many friends. I dare not imagine what would have happened if I had gone out alone in the street».
What would you do if you were mayor for a day?
«I would close all the works in progress that have been open for years. This would also improve traffic and, in my opinion, if the city were more organized, companies and job offers would also increase».
And instead, as an influencer, what will he do?
«In 2023 I will develop my format, talking about many different topics, including, of course, my city».