Agrigento Caltanissetta Siracusa Trapani Agrigento Caltanissetta

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Agrigento Caltanissetta Siracusa Trapani Agrigento Caltanissetta The archaeological and landscape and Ipsas flow down to the sea park of the Valley of the temples by San Leone beach. The of Agrigento environmental and natural AgrigentoAgrigento balances are strongly enhanced The Valley of the Temples is the by the intervention of man. They Gate IX site of Akragas, an ancient city fuse admirably together with the Porta IX founded the year 581 BC by archaeological monuments, colonists from Gela and Rhodes. solemn like the temples, discrete Its history lasted for more than a and suggestive like the Gate VII thousand years and ended necropolis and the complex Porta VII between the VII and the IX hypogees. century AD, when its inhabitants However most of the ancient moved to the Girgenti hill, that is classical and roman city is still on the most western end of the hidden under almond trees and area where the ancient Greek hundred year old olive trees. TempioTemple of di Demeter Demetra Bouleuterion city used to be built. The ancient Even today the remains come to Gate VI (Council Hall) classical city which stretched the surface of this secret reserve Porta VI Bouleterion HellenisticQuartiere and RockySantuario Sanctuary rupestre ellenistico - romano between the Rupe Atenea hill to show more of its own past. In Agora'Upper Agora Superiore Roman Quarter and the Ridge of the Temples, the middle of the 1900’s an aerial Gate I OratorioPhalaris’ di Oratory Falaride PoggettoSan Nicola diHillock S. Nicola Porta I shows the remains of its view showed one of the most impressive buildings in what we interesting sides of the town: the Ekklesiasterion CaltanissettaCaltanissetta Ekklesiasterion call today the Valley of the Hippodamian street plan in the Temples, a unique art heritage. area between the southern ridge TempioTemple of di Vulcan Vulcano Not so long ago, the so called and the foot of the Rupe Atenea LowerAgorà Agora Inferiore Gate II Valley of the Temples covered hill. Six wide roads (plateiai) Porta II SanctuarySantuario of delle Colimbetra only the area between the Ridge covered this area from the East to CthonianDivinità Divinities Ctonie TempioTemple of di JupiterGiove of the Temples and the Rupe the West and were crossed by 30 TempleTempio of dei Dioscuri Dioscuri Atenea hill. Today it includes also narrow streets (stenopoi) TempioTemple of della Concord Concordia PortaGate VV the surrounding area where you according to a grid plan. All the GatePorta IV IV TempioTemple di of Ercole Hercules TempioTemple ofdi JunoGiunone find the necropolis and the buildings of the ancient city, TombaTheron’s diTomb Terone extra-moenia sanctuaries (that is including the temple of Zeus, the outside the ancient city walls), gimnasium and the buleuterion, PortaGate III III and where the rivers Akragas were inserted in this regular layout. Today clearly visible modern changes concern especially percorsoRoad carrabile the San Nicola area. There you can see the remains of ancient percorsoPedestrian pedonale path public buildings next to the different terraces connected one ingressiEntrances to the other by ramps and steps TrapaniTrapani SiracusaSiracusa and on which the city was built. The most important period of mentioned by Diodorus (Diod. X I, where the water coming from hall, which lies on an area rich in Akragas corresponds to the first 25, 5), and which contributed to the hills used to be collected more recent remains. The ruins of two centuries of its history at the the development of the town in through the underground the ancient city still show marks time of the tyrants Phalaris and the V century BC. The temple of tunnels. In the VI century BC, at of the destruction made by the Theron (VI -V century BC). These Hercules mentioned by Cicero in the time of Phalaris, the 12 km. Carthaginians in 406 BC and two tyrants made the town its Verrine, was the first long city walls were made. especially by the Romans during wealthy in the V century BC by peripteron temple to be built on During the V century BC all the the Punic Wars, in the second conquering new land and by the southern end of the ridge of temples of the ridge were built: half of the III century BC. The winning against the the temples. About twenty years from the temple of Zeus (480 BC) beginning of the Roman era, Carthaginians in 480 BC the later the temple of Zeus was to the one of Concordia (430 BC). after the conquest’s consequent famous battle of Himera, when made next to it. During the VI The public buildings excavated in destruction, was characterised by Theron fought allied with century BC a large sacred site the last few years in the San an intense activity and is Syracuse. Thanks to the spoils of was to be found in the area on Nicola hillock area, right in the represented by the Hellenistic that war, that is mainly slaves, the western end of the ridge. It centre of the town, date back to and Roman Quarter, where Theron was able to build great has been recognised as the the IV century BC. These are the different types of houses can be public buildings such as the sacred area of the goddesses of rounded cavea of the seen: Hellenistic houses with a temple of Zeus and less known the Earth Demeter and Kore and ekklesiasterion, that is the seat of wide peristyle, houses with an but still visible water tunnels and it includes the temples, shrines, the Assembly, where 3.000 atrium and compluvium having reservoirs. Moreover he carried altars and precincts between the people could meet and on the also a portico like those found in out a policy for the improvement temple of Zeus, Gate V and the northern end of the hillock, the Pompei, houses with courtyards, of agriculture, which is Colimbetra, that is the fishpond bouleuterion, that is the Council corridors and atriums. During Hellenistic time the urban and where excavations are still basilica which is located on the connecting some hypogees once occupied by the ancient layout shows functional under way. The third terrace North of the temple of Concord dating from the time of the civita: of the ancient Akragas characteristics. Importance was concerned political and where a marble pluteus decorated classical city on the West of the which had become the roman given to political, administration administration public buildings with bas-reliefs comes from which temple of Concord and under the Agrigentum only the remains of and social facilities which were like the bouleuterion, probably can be seen in the local garden of Villa Aurea; several its impressive temples and the arranged over different terraces even the theatre, and the upper Archaeological Museum. At the end arcosolia carved into the rock of almost intact temple of Concord and in different zones along the Forum where recently a square of the VI century AD the temple the former southern can be seen today. However the way which stretches from San surrounded with porticoes and a of Concord was converted into a fortifications which even today souvenir of its great past was not Nicola hillock to the temple of big roman temple in the middle Christian graveyard-church. Early cover the area between the forgotten and it was maintained Zeus. On the most southern end of of it was found. At the beginning Christian necropolis stretch inside temple of Concord and the thanks to the work of historians the Ridge of the Temples the first of the Roman Empire the town the Greek city walls between the temple of Juno. Events following and topographers. In 1700 the terrace where the lower agorà used enjoyed certain wealth which is temple of Hercules and the the fall of the Western Roman study of classical Antiquities was to lie was next to the plateia- shown by the necropolis in San temple of Juno. These include: Empire made the inhabitants boosted also thanks to decumanus which connected Gate Gregorio plain, below the temple the sub-divo cemetery (that is in leave the town . When the Arabs archaeological research. At the II and Gate V next to the temple of of Hercules and its monumental the open air) and its graves made came in 827 they had moved same time the town of Girgenti, the Dioscuri. This has been sepulchres like the one of Theron, into the ground and sarcophagi their new small town already to whose new name had Arab recently proved by excavations still standing today. In the IV carved into the bedrock which the western hill in the same area origins, became the destination carried out in the area below the century AD early Christian time is was in use since the III until the V where the Cathedral stands of mainly foreign travellers who temple of Zeus. A second terrace represented by the small basilica by century AD; the wide and today and where the modern went to Sicily as they were was the one where the upper agorà the stream that flows at the foot winding catacomb, that is the so town grew. In a short span of attracted by its natural beauties and the gimnasium were located of the temple of Juno, and by the called Grotta Fragapane, made by time vegetation covered the area and the fame of its monuments. The great fusion of monuments new sections such as the Agorà and nature had taken place already and the Gimnasium, the public and it was underlined by the building area next to the Museum, travellers’ descriptions where the eastern fortifications, the they showed to be attracted both Punic Quarter and the Necropolis by that unique landscape and the are not separate anymore but stunning ruins which were then are part of large sections.
Recommended publications
  • Sicilian World Heritage
    PALERMO ARABO-NORMANNA E LE CATTEDRALI DI CEFALU’ E DI MONREALE LA VITE AD ALBERELLO DI PANTELLERIA IL MONTE ETNA SIRACUSA E LE NECROPOLI RUPESTRI DI PANTALICA LE CITTA’ TARDO BAROCCHE DEL VAL DI NOTO L’OPERA DEI PUPI Sicilian World Heritage LE ISOLE EOLIE LA VALLE DEI TEMPLI LA VILLA ROMANA DEL CASALE patrimonio culturale .
    [Show full text]
  • Trapani Palermo Agrigento Caltanissetta Messina Enna
    4 A Sicilian Journey 22 TRAPANI 54 PALERMO 86 AGRIGENTO 108 CALTANISSETTA 122 MESSINA 158 ENNA 186 CATANIA 224 RAGUSA 246 SIRACUSA 270 Directory 271 Index III PALERMO Panelle 62 Panelle Involtini di spaghettini 64 Spaghetti rolls Maltagliati con l'aggrassatu 68 Maltagliati with aggrassatu sauce Pasta cone le sarde 74 Pasta with sardines Cannoli 76 Cannoli A quarter of the Sicilian population reside in the Opposite page: province of Palermo, along the northwest coast of Palermo's diverse landscape comprises dramatic Sicily. The capital city is Palermo, with over 800,000 coastlines and craggy inhabitants, and other notable townships include mountains, both of which contribute to the abundant Monreale, Cefalù, and Bagheria. It is also home to the range of produce that can Parco Naturale delle Madonie, the regional natural be found in the area. park of the Madonie Mountains, with some of Sicily’s highest peaks. The park is the source of many wonderful food products, such as a cheese called the Madonie Provola, a unique bean called the fasola badda (badda bean), and manna, a natural sweetener that is extracted from ash trees. The diversity from the sea to the mountains and the culture of a unique city, Palermo, contribute to a synthesis of the products and the history, of sweet and savoury, of noble and peasant. The skyline of Palermo is outlined with memories of the Saracen presence. Even though the churches were converted by the conquering Normans, many of the Arab domes and arches remain. Beyond architecture, the table of today is still very much influenced by its early inhabitants.
    [Show full text]
  • Spectacular Savings
    AIR UPGRADE AIR * 99 PREMIUM ECONOMY PREMIUM 99 $ plus FREE - Unlimited Internet Unlimited - FREE plus: t t FREE - Shipboard Credi Shipboard - FREE Package Beverage - FREE Excursions Shore - FREE choose one: choose and for a limited time limited a for and FREE AIRFARE FREE plus * 1 CRUISE FARES CRUISE 1 for 2 SAVINGS SPECTACULAR choose one: FREE - Shore Excursions 2 for 1 CRUISE FARES FREE - Beverage Package * FREE - Shipboard Credit plus FREE AIRFARE plus: FREE - Unlimited Internet CRUISE NAME ORIGINAL NEW LOWER EMBARK & DISEMBARK PORTS OF CALL OLIFE AMENITIES AIR OFFER FARE FARES SHIP | SAIL DATE | DAYS FREE UNLIMITED INTERNET plus (USD) (USD) SOUTH AMERICA (CONTINUED) FREE 5 Shore Excursions Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Recife, Brazil; Alter do Chão (Amazon River), Brazil; Boca da Valeria choose one: Inside $6,499 $5,999 Amazing Amazon (Amazon River), Brazil; Manaus (Amazon River), Brazil; Parintins (Amazon River), Brazil; FREE Beverage Package Rio de Janeiro to Miami Santarém, (Amazon River), Brazil; Devil's Island, French Guiana; Bridgetown, Barbados; $500 Shipboard Credit – Veranda $9,099 $8,599 Insignia | Nov 19, 2016 | 22 Gustavia, St. Barts; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Punta Cana, Dominican Republic; Miami, Florida Penthouse $11,499 $10,999 FREE 5 Shore Excursions Miami, Florida; Gustavia, St. Barts; Castries, St. Lucia; Scarborough, Tobago; choose one: Inside $6,499 $5,999 Rainforests & Rivers Santarém (Amazon River), Brazil; Boca da Valeria (Amazon River), Brazil; Manaus (Amazon River), FREE Beverage Package Miami to Miami Brazil; Parintins
    [Show full text]
  • Slope Instability in the Valley of Temples, Agrigento (Sicily)
    Giornale di Geologia Applicata 1 (2005) 91 –101, doi: 10.1474/GGA.2005-01.0-09.0009 Slope Instability in the Valley of Temples, Agrigento (Sicily) Cotecchia V.1, Fiorillo F.2, Monterisi L.1, Pagliarulo R.3 1Dipartimento Ingegneria Civile e Ambientale, Politecnico di Bari 2Dipartimento Studi Geologici e Ambientali, Università del Sannio, Benevento 3Istituto di Ricerca per la Protezione Idrogeologica, CNR, Bari ABSTRACT. The town of Agrigento and the surrounding Valley of Temples represents a place of world importance because of the historical, archaeological and artistic value of their monuments. Since ancient time the town planning expansion of Agrigento has been controlled by the particular geological set up of the area and the repeated and extensive instability phenomena The safeguard of this precious cultural heritage is seriously threatened by slope failures including falls, rock topples and rock slides involving the calcarenitic outcrops. While rotational and translational slides occur when failures develop in the clay and sandy-silt soils below the calcarenitic levels, involving wide areas. This paper explains the geological and structural set up, the geotechnical aspects and man-made factors that exert major influence on this phenomena, on the stability of the area and on the basal foundation of the temples, above all of the Juno Temple. Key terms: Slope stability, Clay, Biocalcarenite, Cultural heritage, Agrigento, Italy Introduction valley below, today known as the Valley of the Temples. A mighty boundary wall has existed to defend the city since its The town of Agrigento is set in a physically fragile foundation, today considerable remains of it can be found environment between unstable slopes and ancient structures along its course.
    [Show full text]
  • Regione Siciliana Comune Di Mazara Del Vallo Provincia Di Trapani
    Regione Siciliana Comune di Mazara del Vallo Provincia di Trapani PROGETTO DEFINITIVO PROGETTO DI UN IMPIANTO AGRO-FOTOVOLTAICO COLLEGATO ALLA RTN CON POTENZA NOMINALE DI 4,677 MWp DA REALIZZARSI NEL COMUNE DI MAZARA DEL VALLO (TP), C/DA ANTALBO Elaborato: RELAZIONE AGRONOMICA Relazione: Disegnato: Approvato: Rilasciato: AP ENGINEERING AP ENGINEERING R_12 Foglio 210x297 (A4) Prima Emissione Progetto: Data: Committente: IMPIANTO MAZARA 13/08/2020 Sicily Sun One S.r.l. Via Rosario Livatino, 22 - Castel San Giorgio (SA) Cantiere: Progettista: MAZARA - C/DA ANTALBO AP Engineering srls, Via Vespri 83 - 91100 Trapani P.IVA 02655170815 Email: [email protected] PROGETTO DI UN IMPIANTO AGRO-FOTOVOLTAICO COLLEGATO ALLA RTN CON POTENZA NOMINALE DI 4,677 MWp DA REALIZZARSI NEL COMUNE DI MAZARA DEL VALLO (TP), C/DA ANTALBO Relazione agronomica R. 12 INDICE 1. Premessa ................................................................................................................................................... 3 2. Descrizione impianto da realizzare ............................................................................................................ 3 3. Localizzazione dell’intervento ................................................................................................................... 4 3.1 Dati catastali ............................................................................................................................................ 6 3.2 L’area vasta di riferimento .....................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Yoga Retreat In
    YOGA RETREAT IN April 25 - May 2, 2020 SICILY Marsala, Italy ALIGN ENERGY | CLARIFY PRIORITIES RESET CHAKRAS EXCURSIONS TO EPIC, SOUL-TOUCHING WONDERS, ACCOMMODATIONS IN A PRISTINELY MAINTAINED 17TH CENTURY VILLA AND DAILY MEDITATION + YOGA! REMOVE ALL OF YOUR DISTRACTIONS AND RESET YOUR CHAKRAS. This distraction free retreat will help shift your goals into concept that life should be enjoyed to the fullest. Early bird mindful habits. We will be staying in a pristinely maintained pricing will be released soon! Contact our studio for more 17th century villa, practicing yoga + meditation daily. Divine details. meals and excursions will touch your soul and reinforce the A land of extremes and contrasts. An island of enormous intensity. A concentrated of history and culture. Each season has its own distinctive charm. Sicilian gastronomy. Sicilian wine. VILLA SALINARA Historic charming villa in Western Sicily. It was originally built in the 1700s. It is a rural farm, a “baglio”, with Mediterranean sunset view. a “masseria”, a typical Sicilian building with a courtyard in the Immersed in history and culture, close to many interesting front and rooms that open up on it. Surrounded by vineyards sights as Mozia, Marsala, Trapani, Erice, Segesta and and olive groves located about 500 meters from the sea, Selinunte. It is a place of indisputable charm. Breathe in the beauty of Sicily. Living area for sharing leisurely meals. Authentic and charming interiors. RETREAT INCLUDES NOT INCLUDES - Accommodation in single/double/triple arrangement - Any personal expenses and incidentals coffee, tea and fruit before morning yoga session. - Insurance - 6 Sicilian brunch, 1 breakfast and 7 dinners (vegetarian).
    [Show full text]
  • 1 English/Italian Edition N. 29 – June 2018
    English/Italian edition N. 29 – June 2018 On Friday 13 October, Chairman Casale Dear Friends of Magna Graecia, contributed to the convention dedicated to As per an “established tradition”, on 14 “Villa Arianna Garden”– an archaeologic site September 2017 Chairman Casale and a of worldwide renown. The set up was care of group of members participated at Torre del the local Rotary Club and the Restoring Greco to the Giacomo Leopardi Prize “La Ancient Stabiae Foundation. Ginestra” organized by the local Rotary Club. The prize was awarded to prof. Fiorenza Ceragioli, a distinguished scholar and researcher on the matter dealt with. On Sunday 15 October Chairman Casale, along with members Auricchio, Carillo, Messalli and Velardo, received at Torre Annunziata (the ancient Oplonti) a delegation Two weeks later, a host of members from of Castellammare di Stabia Rotary Club District 2100 and District 2120 took part at members, who were guided in a visit to the Melfi in the XXXVII edition of Magna famous “Villa di Poppea”. On the occasion, Graecia Colonies International Prize. The the aims and achievements of the Fellowship event’s theme was “Melphi and the Vulture were illustrated to the guests. Massif in Antiquity”. On November 7, at Pozzuoli, the Fellowship joined a meeting with the Rotary Clubs of Pompeii Villa dei Misteri, Pozzuoli and Torre del Greco. Guest of Honor was dr. Francesca Bianco, Director of Vesuvius Observatory, who delivered a most interesting speech on “The Phlegraean Fields and Vesuvius”. 1 guests the incredible antiquities on display, let alone adjoining countryside excavated villa. At the Pompeii Excavations Auditorium, on May 12, a choice of members participated in a conference held by dr.
    [Show full text]
  • Press Release
    PRESS RELEASE FAI Spring Days: Donnafugata’s Pantellerian Garden opens to the public Saturday, March 28 and Sunday, March 29 the Donnafugata Pantellerian Garden will be open to the public for the “Spring Days” held by the FAI (Fondo Ambiente Italiano, The Italian Trust – www.fondoambiente.it). The giardino pantesco – which Donnafugata donated to the FAI last year – stands among the Pantelleria vineyards that are the birthplace of the prestigious Ben Ryé passito (raisin wine) and will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The guided tours will depart from the Donnafugata winery in the Khamma district and include the vineyards and cellar as well as a special tasting of the winery’s products. With the “Giornate di Primavera” – now in their 17th edition – the FAI’s primary aim has been to call attention to the abandoned state of a great many prize assets of the so-called minor Italy. And it is thanks to the FAI and its delegations across the country that public awareness has grown through the years and that many of these jewels have been recuperated and restored to society. Italy is one great open-air museum and we often forget this. To make us more conscious of it, and look at Italy with newer eyes, the FAI created this special occasion that is repeated each year in the first weekend of spring. More than ever this year the FAI is uniting the Bel Paese from north to south: from the Valtellina to Pantelleria, island of sun and wind where Donnafugata is involved in a project of heroic viticulture aimed at excellence and that sees in the Pantellerian garden the symbol – together with growing vines bush-like on terraced land – of an agriculture to defend and promote.
    [Show full text]
  • THE PLEASURES of WESTERN SICILY TOUR We Are Delighted To
    SECRET ITALIA TOURS Unique Small group tours since 2008 THE PLEASURES OF WESTERN SICILY TOUR We are delighted to feature a unique small group tours to discover the spicy Western Sicily : The Pleasures of Western Sicily. Sicily may be Italian, but the islanders are Latin only by adoption. The greatest island in the Mediterranean, Sicily was for centuries the centre of the known world. Its geographic position made it vulnerable to attacks by foreigners, but also a meeting place of civilisations, a bridge between East and West. Sicily is an island with a unique identity and rich historical past. A melting pot of different cultures, traditions and architectural styles as well as beautiful landscapes and a coastline, which is home to some of Italy’s most stunning beaches. The most African of the island’s landscapes, the North West saw a cultural melting pot of Phoenicians, Greeks and Arabs settling in Sicily. Their stamp remains. Incontestably some of the island’s most charismatic ancient sites are also to be found in the West, the Greek temple and theater in Segesta, surrounded by rolling meadowland and the Phoenecian site on the island of Mozia, just off Marsala. Selinunte’s Doric columns are special too, as is the Phoenician ruin of Solunto, perched on the slopes of Montecatalfano. But be prepared for contrast. From the vibrant port town of Trapani you can take a boat across to Sicily’s captivating Egadi islands or a cable car which whisks you up into the medieval walled town of Erice where you can almost feel that you have been transported to Tuscany.
    [Show full text]
  • Tour of Eastern Sicily with a Detour to the West. (7 Days / 6 Nights)
    Tour of eastern Sicily with a detour to the west. (7 days / 6 nights) 1°Day: Catania Arrival of the participants at the Airport of Catania or at place to be specified. Meeting with our courier and transfer to hotel. Accommodation at the reserved rooms, welcome cocktail, dinner and overnight stay. 2° Day Catania and its ruins Breakfast at hotel and guided tour of Catania. Walk along the town centre to visit “Piazza Duomo”, “la Pescheria” (“the fish market) the Benedectine Monastery Via Etnea, Villa Bellini, Piazza Stesicoro and its Roman Amphitheatre. Possibility to take a visit of Palazzo Biscari. Lunch and tasting of typical local food (arancini,cannoli siciliani etc). In the afternoon we will visit the Castello Ursino and the “Bottega del Puparo” where the participants can admire the construction of “pupi siciliani” , typical Sicilian puppets used for plays with a great historical and cultural value. Free time. Return to hotel, dinner and overnight stay. 3° Day: Mount Etna -Taormina Breakfast at the hotel; departure to Catania to visit the Volcano Etna. Hiking along the craters where the participants can enjoy the splendid view of Catania and of the “Paesi Etnei” ( small towns at the bottom of the Volcano) from the Volcano. Visit of the “Grotta Cassone, a cave originated from great lava flows. Lunch at a typical restaurant. In the afternoon, the participants will reach Taormina. Visit of the main monuments: the Cathedral, the Greek – roman theatre. Walk along the main street of Taormina, “il Corso”, full of fashionable boutiques. Return to the hotel, dinner and overnight stay 4° Day: Siracusa –Noto Breakfast at hotel, departure to Siracusa, one of the most important cities of the Magna Grecia.
    [Show full text]
  • Istock - Getty Images LATIUM
    82 Rome, Colosseum, © belenox - iStock - Getty Images LATIUM Latium is an area worth getting to know, beaches, the lovely cli's, all along the a land rich in blends of art, culture and coastline, from Tarquinia beach to the nature, the crossroads of Mediterranean white sand of Sabaudia with its famous civilization and of Etruscan, Sabine, Sam- dunes, to the clear waters of San Felice al nite, Campanian and Latin peoples. The Circeo and Sperlonga, an authentic region probably got its name from the Tyrrhenian fishing village, down to Gae- Latins, whose most recent history min- ta, with its split mountain overhanging gles with that of Rome and the Pontifical the sea. There are very charming under- State, the Terra del Lavoro and the King- water itineraries along the lovely seabeds dom of the Two Sicilies. A compound of the Pontine islands, to underwater memory that only a few dozen years ago caves, fields of posidonia, lobsters and recovered its role as a unique tourist at- even submerged shipwrecks. traction, together with that of the capital The counterpoint to the sea are the city. Nowadays the region stands out beautiful mountains, rich in avifauna and with its many charms, from spas to spec- biodiversity, which mark out the region’s tacular lakes, from gentle hilly scenery to ridge and follow its outline from the bor- charming beaches, from archaeology ders of Tuscany to Campania, from the and art to the great wealth of traditions. Rieti salt road to the Abruzzo National Latium is a wonderland, the essence of Park. Then there are the Monti della Laga natural beauty, historic remains and a and della Duchessa, the magical Simbru- variety of food and wine related to the ini mountains, the heart of Latium, the soil and the simplicity and wholesome- Ausoni mountains and the Aurunci, ness of the crops.
    [Show full text]
  • Amici, Well Here They Are, the Results! the Opera Surveys Have Been Collected, Recorded and Tallied
    A UR LT U C A M I C I S Z T I O A R IA JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2012 VOLUME 13 ISSUE 2 I Y TAL IET IAN CULTURAL SOC A PUBLICATION OF THE ITALIAN CULTURAL SOCIETY ICS PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE Cari amici, Well here they are, the results! The Opera surveys have been collected, recorded and tallied. Each vote has been verified by Delfino & Delfino and now it’s time to reveal the winner. And the winner, the Italian Cultural Society’s selection of the all time greatest composer of Italian arias is...Puccini! To step back for a moment, I began this project last spring in an attempt to reacquaint myself with the literature and music of Italian Opera. I wanted to Valle dei Templi (Valley of Temples) or, in Sicilian, Vaddi di li Tempri is a reexamine for myself what it was that makes an operatic aria “great”. In my misnomer as this UNESCO World opinion, operas do not have the dramatic depth to make them worth seeing Heritage Site is actually located on a over and over. We see or listen to multiple performances of an opera not ridge outside Agrigento. It is one of the most outstanding examples of because we might understand it more deeply, but because we want to “Greater Greece” art and experience a good musical performance. architecture, and is one of the main attractions of Sicily as well as a The pieces you have selected in this project are considered “great” and national monument of Italy. frequently performed because people love to hear them or to hear a particular artist sing them.
    [Show full text]