We are Italians adopted by Jordan. My grandfather arrived in what is
today Jordan in 1921 to build the Italian hospital which is still in
operation today. Till the 50s the Italian hospital was the only facility
of its kind east of the river Jordan till Baghdad. Most Jordanians born
in a hospital before 1970 were born at the Italian hospital. Our home is
located in one of the older parts of Amman; Jabel Webdeh. In the 50s
Jabel Webdeh was the new area of town which was then gradually
abandoned in the 80s and 90s for newer areas. Jabel Webdeh is
currently undergoing a revival. Our building is adjacent to the Italian
embassy and is located 200m from the French Cultural Center and is
within walking distance of the two most prominent art galleries in
Amman: The Gallery of Fine Arts and Darat El Funun. Within walking
distance are also a handful of cafes, some antique stores and
relatively well stocked convenience stores. Down town is 15min walk away
(Husseini Mosque, Hashem Restaurant, Auberge Restaurant, Duke's Diwan,
Central Post Office) and the Rainbow Street area is 25min away but there
is a steep hill to get there on foot. The guest rooms are on the upper
floors of our home. We live downstairs at garden level. We have several cats
and dogs indoors and outdoors. | | | | The very early days of the hospital in Amman
| | My grandfather Dr. Fausto Tesio
| My grandfather and my mother in Amman ca. 1933
|
|  | | The 50s
| The hospital today
| Commemorative street name in honour of my grandfather |
|