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Photos: In Italy, four generations cooped up in a coronavirus lockdown

School teacher Marzio Toniolo has been documenting what life has been like for his extended family in Italy since quarantine began for them in February --weeks before the rest of the country. The family ranges from a Tonilo’s two-year-old daughter to his 87-year-old grandfather. His images capture the strength of family ties and keeping up spirits in tough times.

Updated on: Apr 30, 2020 2:31 PM IST

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1/13

Ines Prandini, 85, plays soccer with her great-granddaughter Bianca Toniolo, 2, on the street outside their home in San Fiorano, one of the original 'red zone' towns in northern Italy in lockdown since February. Even in Italy, where extended family relations run deep, Marzio Toniolo’s tale of lockdown is unusual - four generations cooped up in one house. (Marzio Toniolo via REUTERS)

Updated on Apr 30, 2020 2:31 PM

Ines Prandini, 85, plays soccer with her great-granddaughter Bianca Toniolo, 2, on the street outside their home in San Fiorano, one of the original 'red zone' towns in northern Italy in lockdown since February. Even in Italy, where extended family relations run deep, Marzio Toniolo’s tale of lockdown is unusual - four generations cooped up in one house. (Marzio Toniolo via REUTERS)

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Ines Prandini, helps her husband Gino Verani, 87, get ready for bed, with the help of their great-granddaughter Bianca Toniolo, The family range in age from Bianca to her great-grandfather Gino. The experience has tested bonds of love under the stress of cohabitation, and Toniolo believes they have passed the test. (Marzio Toniolo via REUTERS)

Updated on Apr 30, 2020 2:31 PM

Ines Prandini, helps her husband Gino Verani, 87, get ready for bed, with the help of their great-granddaughter Bianca Toniolo, The family range in age from Bianca to her great-grandfather Gino. The experience has tested bonds of love under the stress of cohabitation, and Toniolo believes they have passed the test. (Marzio Toniolo via REUTERS)

3/13

Schoolteacher Marzio Toniolo, 35, takes a picture of his daughter Bianca painting his toenails as his wife and Bianca's mother Chiara Zuddas looks out from their balcony. The 35-year-old elementary school teacher, his wife, and their daughter, are staying in his grandparents’ house in San Fiorano, a small town in northern Italy. (Marzio Toniolo via REUTERS)

Updated on Apr 30, 2020 2:31 PM

Schoolteacher Marzio Toniolo, 35, takes a picture of his daughter Bianca painting his toenails as his wife and Bianca's mother Chiara Zuddas looks out from their balcony. The 35-year-old elementary school teacher, his wife, and their daughter, are staying in his grandparents’ house in San Fiorano, a small town in northern Italy. (Marzio Toniolo via REUTERS)

4/13

Chiara Zuddas sleeps in bed cuddling her daughter Bianca. They moved from Milan, found jobs in local schools, and were waiting for their house in the town to be ready for moving in. Toniolo’s father, Massimo, 62, was visiting from Sardinia. (Marzio Toniolo via REUTERS)

Updated on Apr 30, 2020 2:31 PM

Chiara Zuddas sleeps in bed cuddling her daughter Bianca. They moved from Milan, found jobs in local schools, and were waiting for their house in the town to be ready for moving in. Toniolo’s father, Massimo, 62, was visiting from Sardinia. (Marzio Toniolo via REUTERS)

5/13

A notice board for people to pay tribute to their loved ones who have passed away next to a wisteria tree in San Fiorano. On February 21, San Fiorano became part of the “red zone”, a cluster of towns sealed off in what turned out to be a futile attempt to contain the virus. The clampdown later was extended to cover all of Italy. (Marzio Toniolo via REUTERS)

Updated on Apr 30, 2020 2:31 PM

A notice board for people to pay tribute to their loved ones who have passed away next to a wisteria tree in San Fiorano. On February 21, San Fiorano became part of the “red zone”, a cluster of towns sealed off in what turned out to be a futile attempt to contain the virus. The clampdown later was extended to cover all of Italy. (Marzio Toniolo via REUTERS)

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Marzio Toniolo takes a selfie, as his daughter Bianca holds his face, on a rainy day at home. “The worst moment was when the first person in San Fiorano died. I know the son. I was already under a lot of stress,” Toniolo said. “That night, I almost had a panic attack and took a tranquiliser for the first time in years.” (Marzio Toniolo via REUTERS)

Updated on Apr 30, 2020 2:31 PM

Marzio Toniolo takes a selfie, as his daughter Bianca holds his face, on a rainy day at home. “The worst moment was when the first person in San Fiorano died. I know the son. I was already under a lot of stress,” Toniolo said. “That night, I almost had a panic attack and took a tranquiliser for the first time in years.” (Marzio Toniolo via REUTERS)

7/13

Gino Verani shaves his beard at home in San Fiorano. After about a month, Toniolo’s father returned home to Sardinia. Things began settling down. But the real concern was Gino, who suffers from short-term memory loss. (Marzio Toniolo via REUTERS)

Updated on Apr 30, 2020 2:31 PM

Gino Verani shaves his beard at home in San Fiorano. After about a month, Toniolo’s father returned home to Sardinia. Things began settling down. But the real concern was Gino, who suffers from short-term memory loss. (Marzio Toniolo via REUTERS)

8/13

On the fourteenth day of quarantine, Ines Prandini restarted an old alarm clock she's had for 30 years to "give some sound to this time, to give some life to this time" at home in San Fiorano. (Marzio Toniolo via REUTERS)

Updated on Apr 30, 2020 2:31 PM

On the fourteenth day of quarantine, Ines Prandini restarted an old alarm clock she's had for 30 years to "give some sound to this time, to give some life to this time" at home in San Fiorano. (Marzio Toniolo via REUTERS)

9/13

Gino Verani and his wife Ines Prandini link arms at home. “At the start, we were really afraid and did not let him go out. My grandmother used to go to church but when my grandfather started getting worse, she stopped,” Toniolo said. Gino would go to bed early and wake up at 10 p.m. convinced it was breakfast time. (Marzio Toniolo via REUTERS)

Updated on Apr 30, 2020 2:31 PM

Gino Verani and his wife Ines Prandini link arms at home. “At the start, we were really afraid and did not let him go out. My grandmother used to go to church but when my grandfather started getting worse, she stopped,” Toniolo said. Gino would go to bed early and wake up at 10 p.m. convinced it was breakfast time. (Marzio Toniolo via REUTERS)

10/13

Marzio Toniolo and his grandfather, Gino Verani play a game of cards. Gino could not understand why he had to stay inside and “coronavirus” meant nothing to him, so the family told him the Spanish Flu had returned. The Spanish Flu hit between 1918-1920 and people of Gino’s generation heard accounts about it when they were young. (Marzio Toniolo via REUTERS)

Updated on Apr 30, 2020 2:31 PM

Marzio Toniolo and his grandfather, Gino Verani play a game of cards. Gino could not understand why he had to stay inside and “coronavirus” meant nothing to him, so the family told him the Spanish Flu had returned. The Spanish Flu hit between 1918-1920 and people of Gino’s generation heard accounts about it when they were young. (Marzio Toniolo via REUTERS)

11/13

Bianca Toniolo takes a picture of her great-grandmother Ines Prandini. “He (Gino) knew what that was and he started to understand,” Toniolo said. Bianca also helps Gino adapt. “No, grandpa, there’s coronavirus about. You can’t kiss me!” she tells him. (Marzio Toniolo via REUTERS)

Updated on Apr 30, 2020 2:31 PM

Bianca Toniolo takes a picture of her great-grandmother Ines Prandini. “He (Gino) knew what that was and he started to understand,” Toniolo said. Bianca also helps Gino adapt. “No, grandpa, there’s coronavirus about. You can’t kiss me!” she tells him. (Marzio Toniolo via REUTERS)

12/13

Marzio Toniolo takes a picture as he participates in a video conference call with colleagues and the headmaster of the primary school where he teaches, to see how everybody's classes are doing. Toniolo and Chiara send their students lessons and homework projects via the internet. On Sunday, Italy announced a gradual easing of restrictions. (Marzio Toniolo via REUTERS)

Updated on Apr 30, 2020 2:31 PM

Marzio Toniolo takes a picture as he participates in a video conference call with colleagues and the headmaster of the primary school where he teaches, to see how everybody's classes are doing. Toniolo and Chiara send their students lessons and homework projects via the internet. On Sunday, Italy announced a gradual easing of restrictions. (Marzio Toniolo via REUTERS)

13/13

Chiara Zuddas has a picnic with her daughter Bianca Toniolo by a blossom tree in the woods 200 metres from their home in San Fiorano. Toniolo, his wife and daughter look forward to moving into their new home when possible, knowing that, if needed, they are just metres away from the older generation. It will continue to be a family affair. (Marzio Toniolo via REUTERS)

Updated on Apr 30, 2020 2:31 PM

Chiara Zuddas has a picnic with her daughter Bianca Toniolo by a blossom tree in the woods 200 metres from their home in San Fiorano. Toniolo, his wife and daughter look forward to moving into their new home when possible, knowing that, if needed, they are just metres away from the older generation. It will continue to be a family affair. (Marzio Toniolo via REUTERS)

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