Fabrizio-  I remember my first trip. I went alone in Germany (Hamburg) to find a girl. It was 1987. Later I felt much more attracted to eastern countries as Viet Nam, Cambodia, Thailand, Pakistan. I'm not so attracted to the western world. For example: if you travel through Europe, etc. France, apparently you will find many differences. I refer to food, to the way of driving a car, different monuments, different habits. But when you and the French man will meet in a Country like Viet Nam or Cambodia, you will discover yourself very similar to the French man. Now, the only western foreign Country that I would visit is the US, but it would be a bit hard to do now. It's too expensive for my life at the moment. I hope to join the US in future.

Ladyfire-  What moved you the most (emotionally) while in Viet Nam?

Fabrizio-  Viet Nam was not  such an easy trip. It was a savage Viet Nam I saw! I went there in 1993, the American embargo was not removed yet. I spent 20 dangerous days through Saigon, Da Nang, Ha Noi. The day after my return to Italy I was sheltered for one day in a hospital for a terrible nervous crisis. Insects all night long, all day long. The Vietnamese were not very friendly in 1993. Absolutely not!
 

The worst memory I have about Viet Nam is of a little girl  (no more than 5 years old) with two holes in the eye-sockets. She had no eyes. I was eating in a restaurant when came to my table to ask for few dongs (Vietnamese local currency). 8 years later, this memory is still sadly carved in my mind. After many terrible and difficult experiences spent in Viet Nam, I have sworn to myself; To not travel there for at least ten years!  I still have a video tape of this trip, but after 8 years, I'm not able to find the tranquility to watch it. Cambodia is wonderful instead! 

Wonderful!!!

Ladyfire-  Tell us about your family and how you were raised in Italy?

Fabrizio-  At the moment I live with my father, my brother lives in Canada and he's married to a Canadian woman. Unfortunately I lost my mother in 1985 when I was only 17. When I was a child I remember that I had two funny dreams; The first- I wanted to be a policeman in New York and the second- a truck driver in Montana. :) Anyway I was raised normally with many friends and girls, but always with a strong will to find a right way to express my thoughts through a special way. Maybe I've got it!

Ladyfire-  Are you married?... Plan to be? How about children? 

Fabrizio-  Absolutely, I'm not married-yet. I have a wonderful girlfriend Valentina and I've had a relationship with her for 8 years. I hope to build a future with her and a family as soon as possible and also I would like to have two daughters. I hope to call them: "Silvia and Francesca".. this if God would give me two females.

Ladyfire-  Do you have a message for the Ladyfire women of the world?

Fabrizio-  The one thing I would like to see many more women in political careers. Women could help the world to be better. Sweden is the Country with the highest percentage of women in political life. 

Although Italy in many areas of life is a matriarchal society, the presence of women in the highest offices of politics is still inadequate. (As well as the United States...)

Fabrizio's Awards:

"The winner of the national UNESCO competition is a Neapolitan. With his image of the «Sassi di Matera», Fabrizio Fiorenzano has won the national prize organised by UNESCO and has been awarded for taking the best photograph of an Italian location declared part of our 'Human Heritage' and organised for the «International Year of Natural and Cultural Heritage» by the United Nations. As well as prizes offered by Kodak Italia and a lithograph produced especially for the «2002 Year of Heritage» by the Istituto Poligrafico di Stato, the winning photo will be reproduced as a commemorative UNESCO poster and printed and distributed for the occasion.  

First prize was awarded to Fabrizio Fiorenzano for «Sassi di Matera»; Moreover, Fabrizio Fiorenzano has won the third national prize: "Popular Prize" organised by Unesco in the occasion of "The United Nation's Day" with another image of the archeological site "Villa Adriana". 

The 37 year old Neapolitan artist, already winner of the "Lorenzo il Magnifico" prize for the digital section at the 'Biennale di Firenze 2001', has again been judged in first place. "It was really a tremendous surprise - commented the winner - because I believe in the safeguarding of our artistic heritage and the beauty of these places. And I'm also proud that my work is contributing in some way to the projects of the United Nations". The winning pictures are posted on the Unesco's Official WebSite  The prize giving day, will be in Rome during the first week of December 2002. For further information, refer directly to Unesco Italy."