They say that this place, where you're standing now, used to be under the sea. Then the water receded and left the clay behind. A mountain of clay. And there were sandy marshes, with plants and trees. A park overlooking the valley. Now the sky is black and the smoke from the kilns covers everything. Millions of bricks take shape. A hundred years ago the kiln workers' village grew up around the chimneys. This is Hell Valley. And this is my home. Only one road leads here. The dome of St Peter's is always there to remind us: we are in Rome, the city that is growing using our bricks. The nickname 'Piccola Russia' comes from a speech by Lenin, who once found the valley to be a model for communal life.