Even in Italy, where extended family relations run deep, Marzio Toniolo's tale of a coronavirus lockdown is unusual - four generations cooped up in one house.
They range in age from his three-year-old daughter Bianca to her great-grandfather Gino, 87. The experience tested bonds of love under the stress of cohabitation, and he believes they have passed the test.
1 Mar 2020 . San Fiorano, Italy. Reuters/Marzio Toniolo
The Toniolo family make a toast, clinking their glasses at home after cooking homemade ravioli.
Toniolo, a 35-year-old elementary school teacher, his wife Chiara, 32, and their daughter, were staying in his grandparents' house in San Fiorano, a small town in northern Italy.
They had 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.
28 Feb 2020 . San Fiorano, Italy. Reuters/Marzio Toniolo
A group of young people hang out listening to dance music on a boombox, by a train track.
On Feb. 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.
2 Mar 2020 . San Fiorano, Italy. Reuters/Marzio Toniolo
Marzio takes a selfie as his daughter Bianca holds his face while they play “mother and baby” 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."
5 Mar 2020 . San Fiorano, Italy. Reuters/Marzio Toniolo
On the fourteenth day of quarantine, Marzio’s grandmother Ines Prandini, 85, 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.
The clampdown later was extended to cover all of Italy.
After about a month, Toniolo's father returned home to Sardinia.
12 Mar 2020 . San Fiorano, Italy. Reuters/Marzio Toniolo
Marzio and his grandfather Gino play a game of cards at home.
Things began settling down. But the real concern was Gino, who suffers from short-term memory loss.
"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.
7 Mar 2020 . San Fiorano, Italy. Reuters/Marzio Toniolo
Gino and his wife Ines sleep at home on the 16th day of quarantine.
Gino would go to bed early and wake up at 10 p.m. convinced it was breakfast time.
He 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.
27 Mar 2020 . San Fiorano, Italy. Reuters/Marzio Toniolo
Marzio's family gather to watch a live broadcast of Pope Francis giving an extraordinary global blessing to an empty St. Peter's Square, where he urged the world to see the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis as a test of solidarity and a reminder of basic values.
The Spanish flu hit between 1918-1920 and people of Gino's generation heard accounts about it when they were young.
"He knew what that was and he started to understand," Toniolo said.
8 Apr 2020 . San Fiorano, Italy. Reuters/Marzio Toniolo
Gino goes for a walk close to his home.
Gino now wears a mask and goes for a walk, sitting on a bench while neighbours keep a discreet, watchful eye.
Bianca also helps Gino adapt. "No, grandpa, there's coronavirus about. You can't kiss me!" she told him.
27 Mar 2020 . San Fiorano, Italy. Reuters/Marzio Toniolo
Marzio 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 his wife Chiara send their students lessons and homework project via the internet.
On Sunday, Italy announced a gradual easing of restrictions.
20 Mar 2020 . San Fiorano, Italy. Reuters/Marzio Toniolo
Marzio takes a picture of Bianca painting his toenails.
Story
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.
PHOTO EDITING MARIKA KOCHIASHVILI; TEXT EDITING Mike Collett-White