For Leonardo Stracca, cultural identity has never been as straightforward as a singular place on a map. Born in Frankfurt to an Italian family and educated at an Italian school, he grew up between two cultures, and despite having strong roots in both, he has often felt caught somewhere between them. He explains how “Germans don’t recognise me as German, and Italians don’t recognise me as Italian”. He captures this feeling into one word: “Outcast”.
However, growing up with a complex identity has made Leonardo comfortable with movement and transition. From an early age, he was exposed to life beyond the familiar, with his travel-orientated family encouraging a sense of curiosity and receptiveness towards the wider world. Their journeys together have taken Leonardo as far as South Africa and Asia. Rather than feeing anchored to one specific place or bound to one particular identity, these adventures have cultivated a profound interest in the world and a “desire to experience life in different cities and cultures.”
He is drawn to places that are bustling, diverse, and constantly evolving, describing himself as being “afraid of boredom and being isolated”. For Leonardo, energetic cities are enticing, promising the vibrant dynamism on which he thrives. It was this appetite for unpredictable urban life that led him to London. He studied History and Journalism at Goldsmiths, University of London, alongside his National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) Diploma, immersing himself in one of the world’s most fast-paced cities.
Leonardo’s interests lie in reporting, with an attraction to local issues and stories that can easily be overlooked amid the noise of bigger headlines. His experience of navigating cultures has provided him with an openness to perspectives that differ from his own, something he hopes to carry into his reporting. For Leonardo, journalism is an opportunity to give people a platform and bring the experiences that shape everyday communities to the forefront. Having spent much of his own life negotiating his sense of identity, he is naturally curious about the experiences that shape other people’s sense of belonging.
Beyond journalism, Leonardo’s interests include one of Italy’s greatest passions: football. As an avid fan both on and off the pitch, and a “devoted AS Roma supporter”, his recent move to Rome will allow him to experience the club’s passionate sense of community first-hand. He believes football “brings people together and creates a sense of community and shared identity through the simple act of supporting, or playing for, a team.”
Rome is the next stage of Leonardo’s journey, and this time he is experiencing a part of his own culture in a way he never has before. Alongside the opportunity to broaden his knowledge of journalism and communication at Luiss University, the city will offer the chance to immerse himself in a new environment and deepen his understanding of the world around him. With its relentless pace and rich culture, Rome is a natural fit for someone who is drawn to the hubbub of city life. Nevertheless, it is Leonardo’s ability to adapt that may prove most valuable. His life between different cultures has inevitably taught him to embrace change, a quality that will undeniably shape his journey as a journalist.
