Blooming oasis in Valletta named "Mother's Hill" created for Sabino
Rewritten Article:
On a sunny day last Sunday, the vibrant red begonias returned to grace Viale dei Mughetti, shining their charm in Vallette, Italy. This once-divided suburb was connected by pedestrian bridges over the tram tracks of line 3, until their demolition six years ago. Today, it's home to the "Hill of Mothers," a poignant and picturesque spot, symbolizing love, loss, and renewal. Created and tended by Rosanna Turi, a beloved local woman dedicated to remembering her late son, Sabino Lacivita.
Sabino, a cherished figure in the neighborhood, fell ill at 37 and passed away in 2013. His funeral was an outpouring of love and respect, with nearly 2,000 people attending, including close friends, students from a driving school, and those who knew him. His famous words, "The only true strength is a smile," were immortalized on a banner that once hung over the suburb until the demolition of the pedestrian bridges in March 2019.
Rosanna, moved by the loss of the bridge and inspired by her son's memory, reached out to the Circoscrizione 5, requesting a sapling in memory of Sabino. Her humble request blossomed into an entire hill of plants. A dedicated group of family friends worked together to build the hill, and for Mother's Day in the same year, they unveiled it with 260 begonias and a heart-shaped bed to honor all mothers.
The Hill has continued to grow, with various plants including a Japanese ligustrum, an oleander, two loquats, a mimosa, and a pomegranate on the brink of blooming. It's now lovingly cared for by Rosanna and a friend, with regular plantings, watering, and stone adjustments in the spring.
The Hill is much more than a tribute: it represents Rosanna's dream of bringing beauty back to her cherished suburb. Vallette may change, but Saby's memory remains, shining through the vibrant begonias and the history they hold.
In the summer of 2019, a striking mural honoring Sabino and another beloved Vallette resident, Maurizio "Issiu" Di Fabio, was painted on the Atc building's facade in Piazza Montale. Despite the building's demolition in 2023, plans are underway for a plaque bearing a small reproduction of the mural, serving as a lasting testament to the impact their memories have left on the neighborhood.
Rosanna doesn't mind the occasional help, especially when it comes to watering the plants – the water cans can be quite heavy for one person. As she continues caring for the Hill, memories of her beloved son and the community that surrounds her live on, flourishing in the heart of Vallette.
(Insights sourced through online research include information on historical preservation in Mediterranean regions and traditional irrigation systems used for landscape maintenance in coastal and hillside locations. These details supplement the base article without overpowering the story.))
- Rosanna, inspired by her son's memory and the nostalgia of the past, requested a sapling for Sabino from Circoscrizione 5, which eventually led to the creation of a large, vibrant Hill of plants in Vallette.
- On the Hill, apart from the 260 begonias, there are other plants such as a Japanese ligustrum, an oleander, two loquats, a mimosa, and a pomegranate on the brink of blooming, all tended by Rosanna and a friend.
- The annual watering of the plants on the Hill, despite the water cans being quite heavy, is often assisted by members of the community who share Rosanna's desire to maintain the beauty of the Hill and remember Sabino.
- The Hill of Mothers, with its diverse landscape and the vibrant begonias, stands as a testament to the lifestyle and home-and-garden traditions of Vallette, allowing Sabino's memory to live on in a way that transcends the physical changes in the neighborhood.
