Walking together in peace
I've been spending time in Palermo lately—a city once known for mafia violence and fear, where memories of public assassinations and systemic corruption still linger in the streets as murals and shrines to victims and in the stories of the older generations. But today, Palermo feels transformed. The evenings here are filled with the joy of the passeggiata, that ritual stroll where locals of all ages take to the streets—walking, talking, people watching.
This week I also joined a crowd of smiling onlookers as a procession moved slowly through the streets. Children were playing brass instruments while others carried a statue of Jesus from the local church. They were met with cheers, confetti and applause from neighbours leaning out of doorways and balconies. In the crowd, I spotted a woman wearing a t-shirt that said ‘No Pizzo’ – a reference to a community project that began some 20 years ago with street stickers inciting Palermitans to refuse to pay mafia protection money (pizzo).
In these moments, the city becomes a living, collective artwork—its people composing a choreography of peace and joy. For those of us drawn to walking arts and writing, Palermo offers a vivid reminder of how walking can be a form of quiet resistance, a reclaiming of public space, a gesture of togetherness and trust.
This Friday, 16th May, marks the International Day of Living Together in Peace. At a time when violence and division still shape much of our world, walking remains a quiet yet powerful act of connection.
When I haven’t been walking the streets, I’ve been immersed in reading the selected entries to our 39 Steps flash fiction competition for our limited edition illustrated chapbook. These fun, surprising, and suspenseful pieces reimagine the spirit of John Buchan’s classic man-on-the-run tale in inventive new ways. For more information about our upcoming chapbook - stay tuned!
|
Writer, walker, digital storyteller, psychogeographer
|
|
|
Supported by:
Placecloud
Researchers use Placecloud to mark sites of significance with short podcasts.
|
Latest podcast episodes
|
Join Lynn Hoffman for this very special classic replay with singer, songwriter, author and inspirational speaker Mary Gauthier. She is one of the most talented and ... Start listening
|
|
Jaboat o dos Guararapes Brazil Estamos na Praça do Córrego da Batalha, no município de Jaboatão dos Guararapes. A praça dá início à uma avenida que igualmente é cha... Start listening
|
|
Jaboat o dos Guararapes Brazil We bevinden ons op het Praça do Córrego da Batalha, in de gemeente Jaboatão dos Guararapes. Een córrego is een riviertje. Het plein m... Start listening
|
|
Jaboat o dos Guararapes Brazil We are at Praça do Córrego da Batalha, in the municipality of Jaboatão dos Guararapes. A córrego is a brook, or stream. The square ma... Start listening
|
|
Richard Dawson is Matthew’s guest on this month’s show, talking about his family home being struck by lightning, the temptations of the Boxing Day sales and the joy... Start listening
|
|
Join @thebuzzknight for this inspiring episode with Founder and CEO of Girlilla Marketing, Jennie Smythe. She has a new book out called “Becoming Girlilla” and she ... Start listening
|
|
Cidade Velha Cabo Verde Estamos diante do pelourinho de Cidade Velha, no sul da ilha de Santiago, em Cabo Verde. O centro histórico de Cidade Velha é um Patrimônio ... Start listening
|
Support walk · listen · create
walk · listen · create is a member-supported organisation. If you like what we do, and want to see more of it, please become a supporting member.
You will be facilitating a more sustainable organisation and you will contribute to larger prizes for both the SWS and Marŝarto awards. And, as a supporting member, you get free access to our online cafés.
Support us from 5 euros per month. It’s even a bit cheaper if you commit for a whole year. Check out the details.
From our network
|
We are delighted to announce the authors selected for our forthcoming illustrated chapbook anthology 39 Steps, celebrating the famous man-on-the-run thriller by Joh... Keep reading
|
|
Nos rapports aux sons et à leurs milieux ne se limitentNi à l’approche esthétique, artistique, musicale, musicologiqueNi à celle de l’écologie acoustique, du bruit,... Keep reading
|
|
I’m delighted to share I’m doing an online talk and an in-person walk focused on my book, Walking as Artistic Practice, as a part of OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning I... Keep reading
|
|
Expectancy’s in the air for laughs and revelations in Alan Aykbourn’s bittersweet 1976 tragicomedy, but Michael Cabot’s touring production misses the mark – deliv... Keep reading
|
|
Am 17.05.’25 um 15:00 Uhr findet die Premiere von Caroline Böttchers neuem Stück Memorabilia – Ein akustischer Rundgang über die Marienhöhe statt. Das Stück wird au... Keep reading
|
|
Join us on 22 May for an evening of folk retellings and modern mythmaking with Phil Smith and Helen Billinghurst. Keep reading
|
|
Much of my job for the past two decades and more has been teaching composition to first-year university students. It’s never been easy, and over time it’s gotten mo... Keep reading
|
|
Join me for an in-person Street Wisdom Walkshop happening as part of this year's big annual day of wonder and wandering, the World Wide Wander 2025. This Walkshop i... Keep reading
|
|
Wheatley Elm Wellbeing Walk, May 10th 2025 (2-3.30pm).
... Keep reading
|
WALC
Walking Arts & Local Communities (WALC) is an artistic cooperation project, co-funded by the European Union, Creative Europe, starting in January 2024 for four years. With seven partners from five countries, WALC establishes an International Center for Artistic Research and Practice of Walking Arts, in Prespa, Greece, at the border with Albania and North Macedonia, backed up by an online counterpart in the format of a digital platform for walking arts.
Stuff we found
|
After a relationship breakup, rambling 700 miles from the Highlands to Dorset with Martin helped restore my faith in people Source: Experience: I walked the length ... Keep reading
|
|
(Creating Adventurous Places Ltd) about The making of The Roderick Dhu Lookout Tower at Loch Katrine on Experience UK. Source: The making of The Roderick Dhu Lookou... Keep reading
|
|
During their many visits to Vietnam, Belgian stilt-walking art troupes have brought special performances to festivals in Vietnam, contributing to the strengthening ... Keep reading
|
|
Travelling west from Norwich to Cornwall, a musician finds inspiration in ancient rituals and sights, from May Day celebrations to bluebell dells Source: My musical... Keep reading
|
|
Cornwall is packed with places that make you pause – whether it’s a view across a tidal estuary or the moment you hear nothing but birdsong and breeze. But few thin... Keep reading
|
|
Source: Richard Long Creates Mud Work For National Gallery’s Bicentennial Keep reading
|
|
“Is home a place, a feeling, or an idea?” is the relatable question at the heart of Do Ho Suh’s major survey open now at Tate Modern. Source: To ‘Walk the House,’ D... Keep reading
|
Follow us on social media
