Il funzionamento del progetto è semplice: ogni gruppo sceglie una leggenda o un racconto popolare della propria tradizione, seleziona alcune parole chiave e le condivide con i partner stranieri, che creano una nuova versione della storia. Successivamente viene presentato il testo originale per confrontare le diverse interpretazioni.

Attraverso questa attività gli studenti migliorano le competenze linguistiche in lingua inglese, sviluppano creatività e capacità di collaborazione e approfondiscono la conoscenza delle tradizioni culturali dei paesi partner, partecipando attivamente a uno scambio interculturale e promuovendo al tempo stesso la conoscenza e il rispetto delle diverse tradizioni culturali.

Il lavoro è stato strutturato nelle seguenti fasi:

• Sintesi dei racconti: Ogni storia è stata riassunta per metterne in luce gli elementi narrativi principali e tradotta in inglese.

• Selezione terminologica: Per ciascun racconto sono state individuate 15 parole chiave emblematiche.

• Coinvolgimento delle scuole: Il materiale è stato inviato alle scuole partner, che avranno il compito di inventare e redigere una propria versione della storia, partendo esclusivamente dai termini suggeriti.

  
  

Le storie selezionate sono state:

- Il mito di Scilla e Cariddi

- La leggenda del tesoro perduto di Alarico

- La leggenda del fantasma di Palazzo de Nobili

- La leggenda della fondazione di Trischene

- Il racconto de Il reuccio fatto a mano (versione di Italo Calvino)

Un Saraceno nella locanda Trischene

A Palepolis (oggi Uria) c’era tutto un fermento … grida, frastuono, rumori di donne e bambini da ogni parte … erano arrivati i terribili e sanguinari Saraceni! La loro nave, con il vessillo nero e la mezzaluna, si vedeva all’orizzonte in quel bel mar Ionio dai colori scintillanti: un viola mescolato all’azzurro. I Saraceni portavano scimitarre affilate e turbanti in testa e professavano la religione della Pietra Nera.

Quando scesero a riva, però, e sentirono la sabbia calda sotto i piedi, non attaccarono, non portarono morte e distruzione, come tutti credevano, ma chiesero alla gente del posto di poter stare lì per qualche giorno. Poi sarebbero ripartiti verso il golfo di Taranto dove li aspettava un’altra nave. Le persone, anche se impaurite, alla fine, accettarono. Dissero loro che potevano alloggiare nella locanda Trischene dove l’oste era molto accogliente e cucinava piatti sfiziosi, insaporendoli con spezie orientali: noce moscata, pepe nero ecc.

Un giorno, Samir Khal Mumbai stava giusto mangiando peperoni allo zenzero e alla noce moscata quando chiese all’oste della locanda da dove venisse quel nome strano: Trischene. Lucio, uomo robusto e dai grandi occhi buoni, ricordò allora le tante storie di sua nonna Carmela, storie che lei gli aveva raccontato con amore alla luce fievole di una candela nelle sere di tempesta. Era contento che uno straniero gli chiedesse di raccontarle. In fondo, questi terribili Saraceni non erano, poi, tanto male se volevano conoscere tutte queste cose.

Così Lucio si schiarì la voce e iniziò il suo racconto:

“Nel fondo indistinto dei tempi più remoti, quando la realtà si mescola alla fantasia, alcuni uomini in ansia fuggivano da una città in fiamme. Terrorizzati e preoccupati. La città si chiamava Troia e si trovava di là da questo mare, lontano, verso la Turchia. Sulle coste fiorenti della Turchia. I guerrieri greci l’avevano sconfitta, incendiata e, adesso, i pochi Troiani sopravvissuti fuggivano. Cercavano di mettersi in salvo e di portare con sé qualche ricordo della loro patria perduta per sempre. Non l’avrebbero più rivista … mai più. A capo dei fuggiaschi c’era un uomo di nome Antenore. Con lui tre principesse troiane, Astiochena, Attila e Edicastena, sorelle addirittura del re Priamo.

Quando, dopo un lungo e difficile viaggio in mare, in balia delle onde, le principesse arrivarono tra il fiume Simeri (l’antico Marvotrinchison) e il fiume Crocchio (l’antico Arocha), vicino alla foce dell’attuale fiumarella di Uria, rimasero a bocca aperta per la bellezza del luogo: la trasparenza dell’acqua, l’aria cristallina, le distese di macchia mediterranea con ginestre, cespugli di more e rosmarino, piante di alloro. Gli ulivi sembravano un mantello d’argento sulla creta. Qua e là, sbucavano animaletti selvatici: volpi fulve, piccoli ricci, lucertole brillanti. La principessa Attila, allora, esclamò:

“Sorelle, dobbiamo fermarci qua! Non andiamo avanti, nessun posto può essere migliore di questo! Fermiamoci!”.

Le altre due principesse furono d’accordo con Attila e comunicarono la loro decisione al resto dei compagni in fuga. Decisero anche che, in onore agli Dèi, avrebbero edificato tre templi: uno dedicato alla dea Pale (da cui l’antico nome di Uria, Palepolis), il secondo tempio per Era, moglie di Zeus, vicino al Crocchio, il terzo edificio religioso dedicato alla dea Atena su una collinetta del fiume Simeri (oggi Colle del Sindaco o, in dialetto, A’ coda du Sindacu nella località La Petrizia). Attorno a questi templi, piano piano, si formarono delle città popolose: Herapolis e Athenapolis”.

Samir ascoltava con attenzione il racconto dell’oste Lucio. Pensava che avrebbe dovuto cercare i resti di questi antichi templi troiani, perché, sì, era un Saraceno proveniente dai deserti arabi, addestrato a combattere, ma fin da piccolo aveva sentito la passione per l’archeologia. Voleva studiare i segni lasciati, nel tempo, dai popoli della storia. Intanto, Lucio continuò la sua storia:

“Con il passare degli anni, le tre cittadine sorte intorno ai templi voluti dalle principesse troiane, si svilupparono, perché erano abitate da mercanti e abili pescatori. Quando arrivarono i Romani e le conquistarono, ci furono dei cambiamenti. Intanto, molte persone non credevano più a Zeus, Era ecc., non erano più pagane, ma cristiane, anche se non lo mostravano in giro per paura di essere perseguitate. Poi, nel 400 d.C., quando era imperatore romano Arcadio, uno dei figli di Teodosio I e il Cristianesimo era, ormai, religione ufficiale dell’Impero, le tre cittadine si unirono e formarono una confederazione. Prese il nome di Trischene (Tres Scenai o Treis Schenè) che significa città dei tre luoghi o delle tre chiese. I templi, infatti, nel frattempo erano diventati delle chiese dove celebrava il vescovo. A Trischene arrivava gente da ogni parte del mondo conosciuto: persone di lingua latina, Greci, monaci orientali che fuggivano dalla Palestina occupata dai Turchi. Trischene si ingrandì, si circondò di mura possenti, difficili da penetrare. Furono costruite delle torri da cui le vedette o le sentinelle potevano avvistare i pericoli che venivano dal mare: Saraceni, come te, Samir, ma anche Ungari e Vichinghi. Insomma, Trischene era diventata una città meravigliosa, simile a un giardino variopinto sul mar Ionio”.

Samir pensò un attimo. Poi disse a Lucio: “Ma tu mi consideri un nemico?”.

Lucio rispose: “Beh, molti Saraceni sono arrivati qui con le armi e le hanno usate tanto è vero che la mia gente ha dovuto lasciare la costa, troppo vicina al mare, e andare in montagna dove i nemici non potevano arrivare. Tu, però, sei diverso. Mi stai ascoltando. Non sei proprio nemico”.

A Samir brillarono gli occhi. Forse aveva trovato un nuovo amico. L’oste Lucio della locanda Trischene. Forse avrebbe anche convinto i suoi compagni, marinai esperti e pirati, a non distruggere Palepolis.

One day the powerful witch Circe, because of jealousy, used a spell against her. She poured a magic potion into the water where Scylla liked to bathe. When the nymph went into the sea, her body changed: from the waist down she became a terrible monster, with many heads and mouths full of sharp teeth.

Scylla, very afraid, ran away and hid in a big cave on the coast of Calabria, in the place that today is called Scilla. People say that a rock in the cave has a strange shape, like a monster, as if the nymph is still hidden inside the stone.

Opposite her, on the other side of the strait, lived another dangerous creature: Charybdis. She was once a nymph, but she was changed into a huge sea whirlpool that several times a day swallowed the water of the sea and then pushed it out again with great force.

Scylla and Charybdis attacked the ships that passed through the strait: Scylla caught the sailors with her heads, while Charybdis tried to pull the boats into her whirlpool. The sailors were very afraid of this part of the sea, because to cross it they had to pass between two great dangers.

Keywords:

1. Nymph

2. Sea

3. Sorceress

4. Jealousy

5. Spell

6. Monster

7. Cave

8. Hide

9. Calabria

10. Strait of Messina

11. Creature

12. Whirlpools

13. Ship

14. Danger

15. Fear

Alexandra, Emily, Matilde, Paola, Chiara, Sofia - 2B

After taking the treasure, Alaric decided to go south, hoping to cross the sea and reach Africa, which had rich cities and important ports. He traveled with his army and a great amount of treasure.

When he arrived in Calabria, near the town of Cosenza, the king suddenly became very ill and died. His soldiers, sad but determined to protect the treasure, decided to bury him in a secret place. According to the legend, the tomb is where the Busento River meets the Crati River, and today there is a statue of Alaric in that spot.

To keep the secret, the soldiers changed the course of the Busento, dug a deep hole, and put the king’s body, his horse, and all the treasure inside. Then they let the water return over the grave, hiding it completely. The slaves who helped with the burial were killed so that nobody could tell the place.

Even today, nobody has found the treasure. Some people say that, at night, near the rivers, you can hear strange sounds or see mysterious shadows, as if Alaric’s spirit watches over his treasure.

The tomb of Alaric and his treasure remain one of the greatest mysteries of Calabria and Italian history, a story of real events mixed with legends passed down for centuries.

Keywords:

1. King Alaric

2. Visigoth

3. Sack of Rome

4. Travel

5. South of Italy

6. City of Cosenza

7. Sudden death

8. Crati and Busento rivers

9. Soldiers

10. Bury

11. Underwater

12. Secret

13. Strange noises

14. Shadows

15. Lost treasure

    
    

Nicola, Giuseppe, Mati, Simone, Maurizio, Riccardo - 2B

So the two young people met in secret, especially at night. Saverio came on his horse under the window of Rachele’s room. He used a clever trick: the horse had silver shoes on its hooves, so the sound was different and Rachele could understand that it was him.

One night, Rachele’s brothers discovered the secret meetings. They were very angry and waited for Saverio near the palace. They attacked him and hurt him badly, and soon Saverio died. When Rachele heard the sad news, her heart was broken. She left her home and went to a convent, where she became a nun. She hoped to forget her pain, but she never forgot her lost love.

After her death, people say that Rachele’s spirit came back to Palazzo De Nobili. Over the years, the window of her room was closed with bricks, and now her soul cannot go out. For this reason, her ghost still walks slowly through the corridors of the palace.

Many people say they see a white nun at night. Others say they hear the sound of chains, soft footsteps and doors opening alone. Even today, people believe that Rachele is still looking for her window and for the great love she lost forever.

Keywords:

1. 19th century

2. City of catanzaro

3. Young knight

4. Young noblewoman

5. Secret love

6. Opposite political factions

7. Secrets meetings

8. Stratagem

9. Silver shoes

10. Window

11. Angry brothers

12. Kill

13. Nun

14. Ghost

15. Wonder

    
    

Marwa, Tommaso, Giada, Greta, Gabriel, Emanuel, Desire’e - 2B

After a long and difficult journey, with storms and high waves, they arrived on the coasts between the Simeri River and the Crocchio River, near today’s Uria. The place was very beautiful. The water was clear, the air was clean and fresh, and the plants were many: broom, rosemary, laurel, and silver olive trees. Wild animals lived there too, like foxes, hedgehogs, and lizards. The princesses decided to stop and build a new home there.

They built three temples for the gods. One temple was for the goddess Pale, one for the goddess Hera, and one for the goddess Athena. Around the temples, three small towns grew: Palepolis, Herapolis, and Athenapolis. The towns grew bigger with trade and fishing.

Later, the Romans came and Christianity became the main religion. The temples became churches. In 400 AD, under Emperor Arcadius, the three towns joined together. The new city was called Trischene, which means “city of the three places” or “city of the three churches.” Trischene became an important city. It had strong walls and towers. Many people lived there. The city was safe, beautiful, and important on the Ionian Sea.

Keywords:

1. Trojan war

2. Survivors

3. Three princesses

4. Sea

5. Travel

6. Calabria

7. Simeri and Crocchio rivers

8. Beautiful land

9. Nature

10. Three temples

11. Small towns

12. Trade

13. Walls

14. Prosperity

15. City of Trischene

For six months, she worked with flour, sugar, and pepper, mixing carefully. At the end, she put a red chili for his nose. The man came to life and was called King Pipi. They were happy and lived together.

One day, while they were walking near a magic wind, King Pipi was carried away by the wind. He fell into the hands of the evil Turca-Cane, a queen who wanted to take him away.

The Princess was sad but brave. She decided to look for her husband. She walked through forests and villages and met three wise men. They gave her a chestnut, a walnut, and a hazelnut. They told her how to use them to enter the queen’s palace.

The Princess went to the palace and tried to wake King Pipi. The queen had given him wine with opium, so he was asleep. The first and second nights she could not wake him. On the third night, using the magic nuts, she finally reached him. King Pipi woke up, and they escaped together on her horse. The Turca-Cane saw them leave, became very angry, and died.

The Princess and King Pipi returned to her father’s palace. The king was very happy. There were celebrations, dances, and songs, and finally, they lived happily ever after.

Keywords:

1. Princess

2. Perfect husband

3. Magic dough

4. Life

5. Love

6. Evil queen

7. Jealousy

8. Kidnapped

9. Research

10. Dark forest

11. Wise helpers

12. Challenges

13. Courage

14. Escape

15. Saved

    
    

Noemi C., Marta, Fatima, Salma, Sara, Noemi N., Rosaria, Rita - 2D

• Inversione del processo: Partendo dalle keyword ricevute dalle scuole partner, gli alunni hanno lavorato "al contrario", ricostruendo narrazioni inedite senza conoscere le versioni originali.

• Produzione creativa: Gli studenti hanno immaginato e redatto la propria versione delle storie, lasciandosi guidare esclusivamente dai suggerimenti lessicali ricevuti.

• Potenziamento linguistico: L'intera elaborazione dei testi è avvenuta in lingua inglese, trasformando l'attività in un esercizio di scrittura creativa e di potenziamento delle competenze comunicative internazionali.

1. shoemaker,

2. dragon,

3. city Krakow,

4. sulfur,

5. sheep the trap,

6. king,

7. princess,

8. brave,

9. poor,

10. smart,

11. prize,

12. marriage,

13. river Vistula,

14. knights

Once upon a time, there was a very poor shoemaker who lived in the city of Krakow. In the same city, there was also a terrible dragon. Every five years, the dragon woke up and terrorized the citizens. During those five years, he hibernated inside a sulfur mine.

While he was hibernating, he still needed food. So he cast a spell to attract all the sheep in the area. When the sheep arrived at the mine, they died because of the toxic gases. Even the king and the princess’s pet sheep were attracted by the spell and died. The king and the princess were very sad.

They decided to ask a dear friend for help: the shoemaker’s son. He was poor but very smart. To save the country, he asked some brave knights to help him. When the knights arrived in Krakow, they made a plan. They lured the dragon to the River Vistula. Then, the four knights struck the dragon’s neck at the same time. The dragon fell into the river and died.

After that, the knights blew up the sulfur mines with explosives. However, there was a small problem: for a week, the whole city smelled of sulfur!

In the end, the princess decided to marry the shoemaker’s son, and they all lived happily ever after.

Nicola, Giuseppe, Mati, Simone, Maurizio, Riccardo - 2B

1. lack of food

2. overpopulation

3. three brothers

4. a crown

5. a white eagle

6. an adventure

7. three countries

8. a group of people

9. tired

10. a camp

11. a coat of arms

12. a big oak

13. a nest

14. a garden

15. city Gniezno

In the city of Gniezno, there was a camp where there was overpopulation and a lack of food. Three brothers were fighting to take the crowns of three different countries. There were also groups of people who supported each brother and helped them try to become king.

All three brothers were tired of the conflicts that had arisen because of the crown. So they decided to talk peacefully in their garden. While they were talking, the second brother had an idea: they should go on an adventure together.

During their journey, they saw a white eagle resting on a large oak tree. The eagle was not alone; its brothers were with it. Seeing the eagle and its brothers made them reflect. From that day on, the three brothers understood that power was important, but brotherly love was more important than anything else.

They decided to rule together in peace. They also chose the white eagle as their coat of arms, as a symbol of unity and strength.

Marwa, Tommaso, Giada, Greta, Gabriel, Emanuel, Desire’e - 2B

1. Wanda the princess

2. a German prince

3. river Vistula

4. gifts

5. Krakow city

6. a suitor

7. threat

8. an invader

9. Poland

10. jump into the river

11. a body

12. a Polish king Krak

13. a mound

14. Polish people

15. mourning

Once upon a time, there was a princess named Wanda. When she was 20 years old, she met a German prince and fell in love with him immediately, when she saw him walking by the river.

Soon, the prince fell in love with her too. To show his love, he gave her many gifts. One day, the prince went to the city of Krakow, where Princess Wanda lived, to ask her to marry him. They dreamed of guiding their people together.

However, one day an aggressive and powerful man arrived and threatened to invade Poland if the princess didn’t marry him, since he was in love with her. The princess was very worried and scared. She thought that jumping into the river was the only solution to protect her country.

A few days later, her body was found by her father, the Polish king Krak. He sadly announced her death to the people of his kingdom, and everyone felt great grief. When the invader heard about Princess Wanda’s death, he felt very guilty. He realized that his threat had caused the death of the woman he loved. Full of regret and sadness, he decided to leave Poland and never return.

After the princess was buried, the people, as a sign of love and respect, brought many flowers and placed them in front of her grave.

Alexandra, Emily, Matilde, Paola, Chiara, Sofia - 2 B

1. in a castle

2. in the River Wisła

3. a very cruel wizard

4. hate everything

5. not like small birds

6. fightening laugh

7. a girl named Sawa

8. a Wizard

9. kidnapped to the kingdom

10. the hunter had sons

11. the youngest was Wars

12. found the girl

13. love

14. lived in a new house

15. Warsaw

A king and a queen lived in a castle near the River Wista. A cruel magician hated them because they lived near the river where a beautiful mermaid named Sawa lived. The magician wanted to kidnap Sawa.

One day, the wizard went near the kingdom and succeeded in kidnapping the mermaid. When the king and queen heard her screams, they asked the hunter James for help. The hunter had three sons: William, the oldest; Nick, the middle son; and Wars, the youngest. Since William was ill, the hunter sent Wars to save Sawa.

The wizard, named Voldemord, used a spell. He transformed two small birds into a mermaid almost identical to Sawa to confuse everyone. When Wars arrived, he saw that something was wrong, and the spell began to fade. Soon he heard Voldemord’s evil laugh. After many attempts, Wars finally found the real Sawa. After a month, he managed to bring her back to the River Wista. However, Wars had fallen deeply in love with her and did not want to leave. So he gave her a kiss.

When Sawa received the kiss, she remembered the magician’s spell: if someone kissed her, she would receive human legs. Suddenly, her tail disappeared, and she had legs. She could now leave the river.

Wars and Sawa got married. Soon after, their son Harry was born. They decided to move to the city of Warsaw, and they all lived happily ever after.

Noemi C., Marta, Fatima, Salma, Sara, Noemi N., Rosaria, Rita - 2D

1. Mongolians

2. sheep

3. war

4. iron

5. ironer

6. God

7. ancestors

8. homeland

9. 21st March

10. Festival

11. melt

12. mountain

13. Turkish people

14. revenge

15. freedom

The Mongolian people had many sheep and were very skilled in the trade of fine wool.

When the ironer died, a conflict started because many people wanted to take his place. The ironer was an important and rich man.

On March 21st, when Mongolia celebrates the beginning of spring and the snow melts from the mountains, the people decided to stop the conflict and choose a new ironer with a test. The sheep were sacred and protected by the gods and the ancestors they worshipped. The person who wanted to become ironer had to shear a sheep. If the sheep stayed calm, he was worthy. If the sheep attacked him, he was not worthy.

Only two boys passed the test: one Mongolian boy and one Turkish boy. They had to challenge each other to decide who would become the new ironer. The Mongolian boy won. The Turkish boy was jealous and used a trick. He lied to the king and said that the Mongolian boy had cheated. Because of this lie, the Mongolian boy was put in prison, and the Turkish boy became the new ironer.

After two months, the Mongolian boy escaped from prison. He returned to his people and proved that he was innocent. The Turkish boy’s lie was discovered, and the Mongolian boy finally became the true ironer.

The next day, the Mongolian people organized a big celebration. The new ironer also received from his ancestors the special tool used to shear sheep.

Noemi C., Marta, Sara, Fatima, Salma, Noemi N., Rosaria, Rita - 2D

1.mountain

2.two

3.girl

4.sisterhood

5.plain

6.stone

7.villager

8.wood

9.cloud

10.curse

11.skirt

12. Ağrı (city name)

13. small

14. sharp

15.meadow

On a sunny day, in the village of Ağrı, a villager went to the mountain to collect some wood. He did not know that the forest was cursed. As soon as his axe touched a tree trunk, the sky became dark and a lightning bolt struck him. He immediately turned into a stone statue.

Two sisters who lived in the village noticed that he had not returned. When they saw the lightning strike the mountain, they decided to go and look for him. When they arrived, they found the stone statue.

The sisters asked a man for help, but he turned out to be a traitor. He told them that if one of them wore a special skirt, the statue would become human again. They tried it, but nothing happened.

Then they had another idea. They put the skirt on the statue. Suddenly, the curse disappeared, and the villager became human again. At the same moment, the forest changed into a beautiful meadow full of colorful and fragrant flowers.

Alexandra, Emily, Matilde, Paola, Chiara, Sofia - 2B

1.The Sultan

2.Mosque

3.Mount Kaf

4.nightingale

5.swamp

6.spring (water)

7. promise

8.road

9.giant

10. fairy

11.palace

12. dad

13. brother

14. gold

15. to fire

Long ago, in a rich and peaceful land, there lived a young Sultan who loved his people very much. One day, a terrible danger arrived: a giant came from the swamp and stole all the kingdom’s gold.

At dawn, the Sultan left the palace, guided by the song of a nightingale. He had promised his father and his brother that he would defeat the giant. On his way, a fairy appeared.

“Go to the mosque on Mount Kaf,” she whispered. “Drink the spring water and it will show you the true path.”

The Sultan obeyed. The nightingale kept singing and showing him the way. After many days, he reached Mount Kaf. Inside the mosque there was a spring. When he drank the water, he felt fire in his chest. It was courage.

He returned to the swamp, found the giant, and defeated him. Then he took back all the gold and brought it home.

The people welcomed him with joy, and the kingdom was saved.

Marwa, Tommaso, Giada, Greta, Gabriel, Emanuel, Desire’e - 2B

1.kite

2.tree

3.bag

4.to save

5.hodja

6.children

7.help

8.decision

9. joke

10.road

11.village

12. to cry

13.shoe

14.goodness

15.to stumble

A kite was flying low in the sky when a gust of wind tangled it in a tree. The children who were flying the kite tried to get it back by throwing a bag to knock it down.

Luckily, there was a very kind hodja in the park. He climbed the tree, grabbed the kite, and, as a joke, decided to launch it into the air. However, the children were not holding the string, so the kite flew across the road and landed in a distant village.

The children began to cry. The hodja felt very sorry for what he had done. He quickly got on his horse and rode to the village. When he arrived, he started running to catch the kite, but his shoes came untied. He stumbled and, by coincidence, he fell right on the kite and broke it. Feeling even more guilty, he went back to the children and, to make up for his mistake, bought them two new kites.

Nicola, Giuseppe, Mati, Simone, Maurizio, Riccardo - 2B

2. Harbour

3. Crew

4. Angry

5. Ghost ship

6. Easter

7. Departure

8. Storm

9. Oceans

0. Rain

11. Boatswain

12. Fiery red

13. Holland

Around the year 1800, there was a tall, thin captain with only one eye. One day, he was preparing for a long voyage, not knowing that something strange would happen.

His caravel was in the port, the crew was ready, and the ship was full of supplies. The captain was angry because a violent storm was coming, and his worry made him grumpy.

When they sailed away, the storm began. The waves were very high, and the crew became more and more scared. The captain also started to worry.

The next day, they managed to send a signal for help. A rescue ship was expected to arrive by Easter. Suddenly, the captain saw a ship with bright red sails coming toward them. It looked like a ghost ship!

At that moment, the captain woke up in his bed. It was only a nightmare. He was safe at home in Holland with his wife and children.

Nicola, Giuseppe, Mati, Simone, Maurizio, Riccardo - 2B

1. Simply beautiful

2. Rock

3. Hypnosis

4. Sing

5. Dangerous

6. Ship

7. Dead

8. Sea ground

9. Siren

10. Shipwreck

11. Moonlight

12. Night

13. Story

14. Lovely

15. Miserable

Long ago, the Atlantic Ocean was not a peaceful place. It was a dangerous trap for many sailors. The most famous story of that time was about a creature that lived near a giant, sharp rock in the middle of the sea.

One cold night, a majestic ship sailed across the dark waves. The crew felt sad because they were far from home and the wind was freezing. However, the sea looked beautiful under the bright moonlight. Everything was silent until a strange melody filled the air.

It was a siren. She was sitting on the rock and began to sing. Her voice was like a powerful spell. The sailors stopped working and stared at the horizon with empty eyes. They looked as if they were already asleep.

The captain tried to turn the wheel, but it was too late. The ship hit the rock with a loud crash. It was a terrible shipwreck. The wood broke into many pieces, and the sailors fell into the dark sea.

The siren disappeared under the water, leaving only the sound of the waves.

Alexandra, Emily, Matilde, Paola, Chiara, Sofia - 2B

2. Seven dwarfs

3. Hunter

4. Prince

5. Poisoned apple

6. Hat

7. Mine

8. Wedding

9. Sleeping

10. Forest

11. Seven mountains

12. Kiss

13. Apparent death

14. Happy ending

Once upon a time, there was an evil witch who, out of envy, gave a poisoned apple to a beautiful and charming girl. The girl lived with seven dwarves, each with a strange name and a different task.

The girl was called Snow White because of her very pale skin. She was kind and peaceful, and she did not believe that anyone could be so evil as to poison her. So, when the witch, disguised as an old woman, offered her an apple, she accepted it.

After eating the apple, Snow White fell into a long, deep sleep and could not wake up. The witch then took her to a forest and left her hidden between two trees.

One day, a hunter was walking through the forest and found the girl. He was very shocked and decided to take her to the royal palace, where a wise and good witch from the village was staying. The witch examined Snow White and found a solution: only her true love’s kiss could wake her up.

Two evenings later, a prince returned from one of his travels. He had travelled through seven mountains and when he saw Snow White, he was enchanted by her beauty. After hearing about the cure, he gently kissed her, and she magically woke up.

When the queen, the prince’s mother, heard the news, she decided that the two should get married. Snow White happily accepted, because she had also fallen in love with the prince.

And they lived happily ever after.

Marwa, Giada, Greta, Gabriel, Emanuel, Desire’e - 2B

1. Wisdom

2. Trust

3. Betrayal

4. Snake

5. Half-human

6. Underground

7. Secret

8. Healing

9. Knowledge

10. Loyalty

11. Human

12. Fate

13. Protection

14. Legendary creature

15. End

At the beginning of everything, there was great wisdom hidden in an ancient village. A boy named Yusuf had always trusted his best friend, Ahmet.

One day, however, he discovered a terrible betrayal. Ahmet had revealed a very important secret. The secret was about a legendary creature, a serpent half human, who lived underground. It was said that he had the power of healing and great knowledge of the world.

Yusuf was very angry, but he understood that true strength is loyalty. He decided to forgive Ahmet, and together they went underground. The creature explained that their destiny was to protect the village. It promised to protect them if they stayed united.

From that day on, the two friends understood that true wisdom means staying loyal even after a mistake.

Antonio B., Giusy, Antonio C., Ludovica, Marco, Francesco G. Gabriel, Francesco S. - 2D

1. King

2. Princess

3. Prophecy

4. Fate

5. Tower

6. Island

7. Sea

8. Snake

9. Fear

10. Protection

11. Inevitable

12. Basket

13. Death

14. Love

15. Tragedy

Once upon a time, there was a very beautiful princess. One day, a wizard made a terrible prophecy. He said that the girl’s destiny was sealed and that she would die from a bite.

The king was very afraid. To protect her, he built a very tall tower on a small island in the middle of the sea. The princess lived there alone.

One day, a young knight arrived on a boat. They met and fell in love. The knight brought her a basket of apples as a gift.

But inside the basket there was a hidden venomous snake. When the princess put her hand inside, the snake bit her. It was a great tragedy. The princess died immediately, exactly as the wizard had predicted.

The king understood that destiny cannot be escaped and that you cannot hide from it.

Antonio B., Giusy, Antonio C., Ludovica, Marco, Francesco G. Gabriel, Francesco S. - 2D

1. Love

2. Patience

3. Effort

4. Mountain

5. Rock

6. Water

7. Struggle

8. Determination

9. Difficulty

10. Task

11. Sacrifice

12. Hope

13. Strength

14. Reunion

15. Folk story

The love between Kiraz and Kenan was strong but difficult. They lived near a high mountain, in a hard land full of rock and little water. Their life was a daily struggle, and every day was a hard task.

To live there, they needed patience, effort, and great determination. In every difficulty, they showed their strength and tried to keep their hope alive.

One day, they planned a secret reunion at the top of the mountain. They wanted to escape and start a new life, like in an old folk story. They knew the climb would require sacrifice, but they were ready to try.

During the climb, Kenan was strong like a rock, and Kiraz was calm like water. Together they faced every struggle.

But suddenly, an old rope broke. Kenan tried to save Kiraz, but her hand slipped. In a moment, she fell into the deep valley. Kenan shouted her name, but there was only silence.

He survived, but he lost his love. From that day on, he understood that their journey had been full of sacrifice, and that hope can be strong even when life is very hard.

Noemi C., Marta, Sara, Fatima, Salma, Noemi N., Rosaria, Rita - 2D

• Lettura dei racconti: Abbiamo ricevuto e letto le storie scritte dagli studenti stranieri, scoprendo come avevano usato la loro fantasia.

• Confronto tra le versioni: Abbiamo controllato quali parti della nostra storia originale erano riusciti a indovinare o a "centrare" partendo solo dagli indizi ricevuti.

• Controllo delle parole chiave: Questo lavoro ci è servito per capire se le 15 parole che avevamo scelto all'inizio erano chiare e adatte a far capire il senso dei nostri miti e delle nostre leggende.

 When he awoke, he found himself on the perilous island of Calabria. It was evening, so he searched for a place to hide. He discovered a cave and fell asleep inside.

 At midnight, strange sounds echoed from the cave. Deepinside, he encountered a mysterious nymph. Yet the nymphwas actually a powerful sea sorceress. She revealed that shehad controlled the creature in the Strait of Messina with a spell. The reason for the spell was jealousy, becausehumans did not respect the sea.

 Despite his fear, the captain gathered his courage andreturned to the sea. He reached his ship and prepared tofight the enormous creature. The sea rose again, andmassive whirlpools formed. During the battle, the captainst-st-stuttered as he struggled to stay calm, but he foughtbravely. After a long and fierce clash, he injured themonster.

 The sea sorceress, amazed by his courage, realized that he had fought despite his fear. She broke the spell, the creaturevanished, the whirlpools ceased, and the sea calmed.

By morning, the captain’s ship lay intact on the shore. As he left Calabria, he vowed never to forget the sea’s dangerand power. For the sea sometimes tests with a nymph’sjealousy, sometimes with a sea sorceress’s spell—but truestrength is to face fear and remain courageous.

Turkey

She took the magic book but the sorceress found out who did it. She was really furious and decided to curse the nymph. She transformed her into a monster. 

The nymph hid in one of the caves in the Strait of Messina in Calabria and lives there now and forever. When she is bored, she creates whirlpools and sends them to the ships. She is known as the dangerous creature of Calabria. All sailors feel fear when they notice the whirlpools on the water, it always means danger.

Poland

Also these days people hear strange noises and see shadows of warriors that protect the king’s corpse and his drowned valuables known as the lost treasure. The shadows do not let anyone get close to the tomb.

That story is still remembered by many girls and boys who admire the brave visigoths and their king.

Poland

During the war, one of the warriors, John, had to go to the opponent’s base. When he got there, he saw three princesses. One of them said: “If you want to go further, you must do a task in the city of Trischene”.

Then John saw the magic door and went through it. Later he saw a beach, a huge sea and three old temples. Their walls were covered with moss. He wanted to enter one of them, but the guard stopped him. “If you want to go to the temple, you must give me some gold” said the guard

John saw a trader, approached him and asked: “Can you give me gold for my jacket?” “Yes, of course,” said the trader.

When John traded the jacket for the gold, he went to the guard again and gave him some gold.

Suddenly, the princesses flew down from the sky and said together: “Your task was to get some gold. We wanted to see if you could think in difficult situations. Now you can go to your opponent’s base, it is 2.9 miles away. Go along the forest’s path and there it is.”

John started his journey. He was surrounded by beautiful nature.

Two months later, Calabria won the war.

Poland

Outside the castle there lived an evil queen who was really jealous that the princess’ husband wasn't hers, and she knew about the dough. So she decided that the only way to make him hers is by feeding him with the dough and kidnapping him. 

The queen sneaked into the castle and stole the dough. She baked a pie from the magic dough later that day and got back to the castle again. She found the prince and offered him a piece of the pie. He ate it and felt real love again, but this time for the evil queen. He followed every single commandment, she kidnapped him easily. 

The princess found out that her husband was missing and quickly told everyone to research the castle. They checked everywhere except the dark forest. No one was brave enough to enter it. But the desperation in the princess grew quickly, so she made her way there. She got lost very quickly and was losing hope when she spotted a cave. She went inside and some old, but really wise people welcomed her. The wise helpers told her who they saw and where the person could possibly be going. She thanked them and left the cave. 

The evil queen’s tower was finally found by the princess. There were various challenges that made her way to the top of the tower very difficult, but she made it. She found her husband and told him the truth that stopped the magic from the dough. Then she told her husband to hurry up and run while the queen wasn’t here. He gathered his courage to do it and they managed to escape. The prince was saved and they lived a happy life.

Poland

At that time a young knight lived in the city. He was very handsome and he had attractive silver shoes. The young noblewoman was very beautiful and elegant. She had long curly brown hair and green eyes. Soon the young knight and the young noblewoman fell in secret love. But the girl’s angry brothers did not allow this love.

The young knight and the young noblewoman wanted to escape. They made a stratagem. One night the young knight came under the window of her room to take her away.

To hide his identity, the young knight dressed like a nun, but his silver shoes were still visible under the clothes.

The angry brothers noticed the shoes and understood who he was. They caught the young knight and decided to kill him.

The young noblewoman could not bear the pain. She ran through the streets in madness wearing the silver shoes of her love.

People say that even today the ghost of a girl with silver shoes walks through the streets of the city. Everyone who hears this story begins to wonder if it is true. 

Turkey

The sailor sailed with a small ship. But the sea was very dangerous. There were strong whirlpools, and many sailors felt fear when they passed this place.

After some time the sailor discovered a hidden cave. Inside the cave there was a strange creature. At first he thought it was a monster.

But later he understood the truth. Long ago a nymph protected this place.

Many years before, a jealous sorceress tried to take the treasure. Because of her jealousy, she made a powerful spell to protect it.

The creature was not evil. It was only there to guard the treasure and hide it from bad people.

The sailor was brave. He broke the spell and the sea became calm again.

From that day on, sailors told the story of the brave sailor and the secret treasure.

Turkey

Long ago, after the sack of Rome, a great lost treasure disappeared. The seer said that, in his dream, the treasure was hidden in the south of Italy, in the city of Cosenza.

He showed an old map. Two rivers, the Crati and the Busento, met there. The treasure was underwater and someone tried to bury it at that place.

The king ordered his soldiers to travel there. They dressed like fishermen and used a small boat.

One night, the seer heard strange noises and saw dark shadows. Suddenly, he went outside.

The soldiers heard a scream. They saw his arm going into the water. It was a sudden death.

Slowly, his hand disappeared.

The treasure remained a secret.

Turkey

After a long and difficult journey, they arrived in Calabria. There, they discovered the Simeri and Crocchio rivers, a beautiful land, and rich nature. They felt hopeful and said, “This can be our new home!”

The princesses decided to build a new city. First, they built three temples. Soon, people started to live around these places, forming small towns. The city slowly grew and became stronger.

They named it the City of Trischene. More survivors came and joined them. The princesses worked together to improve trade, build strong walls, and create prosperity for everyone.

In the end, Trischene became a peaceful and powerful city, full of hope and new beginnings.

Turkey

One spring day, Princess Wanda said that a town needed to be built because more and more people were coming to their kingdom. Krak agreed, and on the same day, he gave the order to build a village.

The construction took a few years. Hundreds of people came to the village, and with them came a young, poor shoemaker named Skuba, who was still learning his profession. He had a dream of becoming a worthy shoemaker and having his own workshop. Soon, he found a job in a big workshop in the city center.

Life in the village was good, but one day huge dragon wings cast a shadow over the sun. It was a massive dragon. He scared the villagers so much that they were afraid to leave their houses or go to work. Older, more responsible people gathered around King Krak’s throne, and they discussed how to get rid of the awful monster. The king agreed, and meanwhile, the dragon had already made himself at home in his cave.

The king sent his knights, but even the mightiest ones couldn’t defeat the dragon, so the king offered a prize – marriage to the princess. There was another discussion after the defeat. This time, Skuba stepped in with his smart idea to put sulfur inside a dead sheep.

He took the sheep and placed it near the Vistula River, where the dragon came to drink water. Thanks to this brave idea, the dragon ate the sheep, which made him very thirsty. He drank so much water that he eventually exploded.

The city of Kraków was saved by the shoemaker, who later married the beautiful Princess Wanda, and they lived a happy and wealthy life.

The brothers lived in a Slavic settlement surrounded by a vast forest. Over time, overpopulation and a lack of food made life increasingly difficult. People grew tired of hunger and hardship, and it became clear that they had to search for new lands.

The most sacred place in the settlement was a big oak tree. Beneath it flowed a spring, and nearby lay a peaceful garden. In the oak’s branches there was a nest, and in its shade grazed a white horse dedicated to Świętowit, the four-faced god. An old priest, the wisest man in the settlement, foretold the future and interpreted dreams.

From childhood, the brothers dreamed of horses. When they grew up, each received his own steed and became the leader of a loyal group. One day, the priest announced that the brothers must set out on a great journey. After preparing supplies, they left their homeland and set up a temporary camp before beginning their journey.

Lech was the first to find his sign. Near a big oak tree, he saw a white eagle flying out of a nest, illuminated by the setting sun. He understood that this was his destined place. He placed a crown upon his head and chose the white eagle as his coat of arms.

Everyone was scared that the young princess wouldn’t be a good ruler. But in no time it turned out that Wanda had all the good features her father had – she was smart, fair, and kind. She was also beautiful. Very quickly, all the people loved her. News about her beauty spread across the world.

The news also reached Germany, where King Rydgiel ruled. The Polish princess fascinated him so much that he wanted her hand. He sent his people to Krakow.

“If she doesn’t accept my gifts or the marriage offer, force her to agree by threats,” he told his envoys.

The road was long and tiring, but when the German envoys saw Krakow, they couldn't believe their eyes. In this wild country there stood such a magnificent castle. The next day, when they saw the princess, they were impressed.

When Wanda saw the gifts they brought her, she declined their offer.

Her scared lords tried to persuade her, but she said, “NO!” She did not want to leave her people and her land. At the same time, she wanted to keep peace. She decided to go to the steep river bank, closed her eyes, and jumped into the rough waters.

Wanda sacrificed her life for the good of her people. The German king regretted his threats and understood that love can’t be bought or gained by force.

They fell in love and lived in a newly built cottage by the River Wisła. There appeared other cottages and hats and with time a new city was made. From their names, the name of the city Warsaw was created.