‘Like Boccaccio’s Decameron’: Balkan Students Hunker Down in Italy

"It was difficult adapting to this type of lecturing, because the conversation with the students is not natural," said Prenkaj, whose department switched to online courses the day after the capital was placed in quarantine.

In Florence, doctoral student Vuk Uskokovic from Montenegro said he had a sense of history repeating itself, with life in Italy eerily reminiscent of the challenges facing the 18th century communities he studies on the frontier between the Venetian and Ottoman empires.

"Working mostly from Venetian reports replete with quarantines, contagions, well-guarded yet permeable borders, journeys of several weeks, supply issues, and pervasive insecurity, I curiously find myself in a position somewhat comparable to that of the people I study," Uskokovic said.

He said there were many foreigners in Italy in a similar situation, following with concern developments in their home countries.

Life to return to normal? 

Empty streets of Rome. Photo: Alessandro Ferrara

In the Balkans, more than 3,000 cases have been confirmed. In Italy, there have been more than 105,000 confirmed cases, and over 13,000 deaths. 

Universities, museums, cinemas, theatres, most shops and restaurants are closed and police patrol the streets to make sure people leave their homes only for essential errands such as trips to the supermarket or pharmacy. Those caught breaking the rules face fines of between 400 and 3,000 euros. 

Once-heaving tourist traps have fallen silent. The only crowded places are supermarkets, where customers wait in line, at least one metre apart, and are handed gloves on entering.

"Most people in my immediate surroundings are, like myself, foreigners living in Florence who, in a position of confinement, are...