Elena Batazzi

Young Journalist and Promoter of Local Youth Culture in Livorno

Elena in her favourite place, by the sea in LivornoElena Batazzi was born in Livorno in 1981 and has lived here ever since. She has always had a passion for writing, and in 2003, while studying for a degree in Political Science at Pisa University, she managed to gain a work placement for a period of two months at the local Livorno newspaper, Il Tirreno. She is now a regular contributor to the paper.

The Take It Easy TeamIn addition, just over three years ago Elena and her friends came up with the idea of putting together and running a magazine about Livorno, concentrating on promoting local underground culture, young artists, photographers, musicians and writers. The result was Take It Easy, which comes out four times a year and is distributed free of charge at various places around Livorno. The team of four, Agnese and Carolina Romani, Alessandra Antonelli, and Elena, with an average age of 26, create the publication completely free of charge, and their contributors are also voluntary unpaid writers. Since Take It Easy appeared on My Space, the magazine has been approached by young people from all over the world and the girls have plans to develop it further over the coming months.

From March to October Elena also works as a tour leader, taking groups of passengers from the cruise ships that dock in Livorno to places of interest in Tuscany. This helps her to keep her English up to scratch.

What are your plans for the future?
It’s difficult to plan the future, it all looks a bit foggy at the moment.  At some stage I’d like to spend a few months in an English-speaking country, experience a new life, and perfect my English. I’d also like to develop Take It Easy so that it could become a paid job for me.
What’s your pet hate?
I hate falseness and hypocrisy.
Do you have a favourite band or singer?
I love music and listen to it most of the time, but I don’t have a favourite. I do like music from the 60s and 70s, as well as a band called The Cake.
What’s your favourite place in Livorno?
The sea, where I love relaxing. In the evenings you can often find me at The Cage Club.
And outside Italy?
I don’t have one favourite place, but I’ve spent time in Japan and Yemen which I loved. I also really like London.
Do you have a favourite bar in Livorno?
I don’t usually go to a bar for breakfast or coffee, but I like Viktor’s, and Mille Miglia for aperitifs before dinner.
Choose: Cacciucco or Triglie alla Livornese?
Triglie – I don’t like Cacciucco!
Choose: Ponce or Corretto al Sassolino?
Ponce
Choose: Bagno or rocks?
Rocks
If you could change something about Livorno, what would you change?
I would like the city to be more open-minded, to accept new things with enthusiasm and curiosity instead of being afraid of them.
What would you miss about Livorno if you went to live somewhere else?
I’m not sure, when I’m on holiday I don’t miss it at all, so maybe I wouldn’t miss anything.
Livorno’s best point?
The sea, and its historical buildings, many of which are being restored at the moment.
Livorno’s worst point?
I wish it could be cleaner. I don’t like the way things are just abandoned on the pavements.
Where would you take a friend on a one day visit to Livorno?
I would take him or her to the Central Market and Piazza Cavallotti, and then on a boat trip around the fossi.

Take it Easy is also available online: www.takeiteasy.it

January 2008