Living on Italian Time: Slow Down with Italian Calendars
Rome’s unhurried rhythm and the origin of the traditional Italian wall calendar
And here we are at the end of January. Has the month flown by for you or have you gotten a slower start to the year? Are you in the midst of planning? Dreaming? Perhaps dreaming of Italy? Maybe you’re thinking about a trip—or simply wondering how to bring a little bit of “Italian time” into your days.
I’ve got a few Italian calendars left in my shop to help you do just that!
Since living in Rome I’ve learned that everything moves at a slower pace here. For better or worse, that rhythm weaves its way into daily life. The sweetness of doing nothing—il dolce far niente—has a way of elevating the mundane and making space even during the most stressful moments of a day. A chat with a colleague at the bar over coffee or a quick exchange with the fruit seller becomes an opportunity to slow down and connect. Even waiting in line can take on a different quality: frustrating yes but also strangely calming. You know your turn will come, and when it does, you’ll have the full attention of the pharmacist, shopkeeper, or the city employee at a sportello. Suddenly the waiting in line is a chance to reset before moving forward, a built-in pause.
How do you track your time?
As a stationery lover I rely on paper planners and calendars. I’m particularly fond of Italian wall calendars. You find them everywhere—shops, offices, homes. At Christmas many shopkeepers gift them to customers, often personalized with their business name and details. Slightly kitschy but ever-present, these simple calendars are part of Italian life.
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Modern Italian calendars are modeled off the historic Almanacco Barbanera and share a similar blend of practicality and cultural significance. The Barbanera, named after the astrologer and philosopher, was first published in 1762 and established a tradition of combining timekeeping with folk wisdom, seasonal rhythms, and practical advice. The UNESCO has included a collection of Barbanera Almanacs in its Memory of the World Register and it continues to be printed in Umbria today.
So, how’s your January been? Have you started sketching out your plans for the year? Maybe they include a trip to Italy? Maybe you’re just looking for ways to bring in Italian energy into your life? Either way, these Italian calendars are a great way to stay connected to the time and pace of il bel paese and bring a touch of Italy into your daily routine. I’ve still got a few in my shop for sale if you’d like to get one.
In the meantime, take it slow when you can,
a presto,
Michelle
p.s.:
Get your Italian calendars here: Wall Calendar and Desktop Calendar — free shipping within the US, use code FREESHIPPINGUS
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Was just in the Fabriano store this weekend and reminiscing about when I used to keep all my appointments in an organizer, rather than in my phone. There's something so hopeful about a new calendar or organizer in January....