Discovering the Verona that no longer exists: the butei designer labels of the 70s.
From the Verona, which no longer exists, includes those historic shops that keep timeless memories which constitute a priceless heritage for Verona. These places were not simple commercial establishments, but real ones symbols of local identity and tradition. Their shop windows, which once animated the streets, offered not only goods, but also a “friendly” meeting and exchange point for the community.
During the years, many of these shops have closed their doors, victims of economic, social and cultural transformations. Despite having physically disappeared, their value and their legacy lives on in the very fabric of cities, evoking memories and emotions of a time gone by.
Do you remember…?
Even in the 1970s in Verona, teenagers had their own distinctive fashion trends. At the time they were taking shape two currents: the young leftists, affectionately called “Chinese” and mostly students of Fracastoro, and those of right, known as the “butei” of Motta (the bar in front of Piazza Vittorio Veneto) or the Bauli (the bar on the corner of via Mazzini, in front of the Arena). These were mostly students of the Aleardo Aleardi chaired by mythical “Mustache” Nalin.
How we were.
While the former wore parkas, Clarks shoes (the desert boots that made the history of the student movements of ’68), and they moved around in a 2-horsepower Citroën, the seconds running with the “HI” or the “Solex” they preferred Ray-Ban, Peter Flowers “oxblood red” ankle boots, green loden bought from the Duke of Aosta and Fiorucci jeans so tight as to be the cause of urogenital inflammation (and it’s not a joke). The boys of the continuous struggle and communist struggle groups, they went to dress strictly as Basevia shop Jeans and Clothing opened in 1924 as tailoring, which originally he only sold military or work clothes.
Between protests, discussions, strikes and demonstrations, a common interest united the kids of the two political factions: skiing. Every Saturday morning, they left by bus towards San Giorgio to ski and have fun. The reference point for purchases was the legendary Faraoni Sport, located between via Sottoriva and via Ponte Pietra, which sold all types and brands of skis, boots, bindings, moonboots, in short everything related to skiing at 360 degrees, and organized Saturday morning ski “outings”. Departure at 6 in the morning from the gardens of San Giorgio – Lombroso in Verona (church side) and there we all loved each other. On that day the only color was white, that of snow.
The shopping in “piassa” and the rosette with the “bondola”.
In the 60s-70s, it was customary go shopping in Piazza delle Erbe. The stalls didn’t sell souvenirs but fruit, vegetables, flowers and foodstuffs of all kinds. It was an experience lively and familiar, where they exchanged jokes And Chatter while doing the shopping.
Another obligatory stop before arriving in the square was the Ferrario grocery store, in Corso Santa Anastasia on the corner with via Rosa. She was famous for the freshly ground coffee and the vast selection of products, from spices to coffee substitutes, from products for remove all stains, glues for every need. Even if Ferrario no longer exists, the historic sign has been preserved by the owners of the premiseswitness to a bygone era.
After shopping in Piazza delle Erbe, I felt a little peckish. Mandatory stop: the bakery in via Stella, where you could taste them “small” hot rosettes with freshly sliced mortadella. How tasty.
