Maria Salvia

Born in 1953, Maria views the bedroom as a hallowed space preserving her family’s history. From the delicate rituals of preparing the bridal bed to heirlooms passed down through generations, she balances honouring the past with embracing change. For Maria, the bedroom is more than a place to rest—it’s a vessel of tradition and reverence.

Town: Balvano
Date of interview: 26 July 2023
Setting: Recorded in the mother’s home; photographs taken in her bedroom, the symbolic core of domestic memory
Site/Area: Piazza Garibaldi
Altitude: 425m
Population:
– 2020: ~1,700
– 1990: ~2,000
– 1970: ~2,500
– 1950: ~3,500