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I'm standing in a market in the heart of Rome.

It's the market of the Piazza Vitorio, the largest Piazza in the city.

I'm Amanda Hargreaves and for the BBC World Service

I'm tracing the story of Rome's first multi-ethnic orchestra

the Orchestra di Piazza Vitorio.

I'll be finding out why it's breaking new ground musically

and how it's come to be a beacon of hope during the current immigration crisis.

The Piazza is right in the middle of one of the city's most historic neighbourhoods,

the Esquiline district or Esquilino.

Very close to the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore

and to Termini the capital's huge train station.

It's surrounded by elegant 19th century palazzo's

and recently it was home to a very traditional Roman community.

So much so that in the famous 1948 film The Bicycle Thief

the scene at the market when the bicycle is stolen was shot in this very Piazza.

I first came here when I moved to Rome two years ago.

I found it refreshingly different from other parts of Rome

because it seemed to be a real melting pot of nationalities.

My impression was that most Romans found their own heritage and culture

...