You who now do not fear,

Ignore the song

Of that bewitching chorus

That invades your mind

 

And for how much you ponder,

By now your arms

Cannot do

anything more

 

But if you relax

And abandon your gaze

To a very long dream

Oh, my Pizzomunno

 

Look at that mocking wave,

That drowns

Your undefended love

 

I will remain faithful to you for life

And if they were few, even another hundred years

Thus you'll soften the deceptions

Of your mermaids

 

Cristalda was beautiful

And he, from far away,

Could see her

Still like that

 

With her hand outstretched

And maybe a tear shed

Into the wind

 

It was only a moment,

Then he disappeared far,

And her, at home, singing

Not even the suspicion

 

That meanwhile, below

Their vendetta

and their lament

 

Because, poor girl, they already had in their heart

The tense muscles of the beautiful fisherman

And his umpteenth refusal

Was one day punished

 

But I will wait for you, I will wait for you

Even if it were for a hundred years, I will wait

Even if it were for a hundred years

 

And then from the sea

They rose together

On the beaches of Vieste,

The evil mermaids

 

Somebody saw them

Carrying down

Cristalda in chains

 

And when the cries

Reached heaven

He truly went mad

Trying to save her

 

Because she was no longer there

And that blinding ire

Stopped him forever

 

And so the people admire him

From then on, giant

of white limestone

 

That waits to this day

For his stolen

And never-returned love

 

But I will wait for you

Even if it were for a hundred years, I will wait

Even if it were for a hundred years, I will wait

 

Even if it were for a hundred years

I will wait for you

Even if it were for a hundred years

Even if it were for a hundred years

 

I will wait for you

Even if it were for a hundred years

 

They say that now

And it may not be a legend

On an August dawn

The beautiful Cristalda

 

Rises again from the waves

To relive

A stupendous story

Le due statue – rinvenute il 16 agosto 1972 nei pressi di Riace Marina, in provincia di Reggio Calabria – sono considerate tra i capolavori scultorei più significativi dell'arte greca, e tra le testimonianze dirette dei grandi maestri scultori dell'età classica. Le ipotesi sulla provenienza e sugli autori delle statue sono diverse, ma non esistono ancora elementi che permettano di attribuire con certezza le opere ad uno specifico scultore.

The Riace Bronzes are two bronze statues of Greek origin dating respectively to 460 and 430 B.C., received in an exceptional state of conservation.
The two statues - found on the 16th August 1972 near Riace Marina, in the province of Reggio Calabria - are considered among the most significant sculptural masterpieces of Greek art, and among the direct testimonies of the great master sculptors of the classical age. The hypotheses on the origin and on the authors of the statues are different, but there are still no elements that allow the works to be attributed with certainty to a specific sculptor.

Na vota nc’eranu du’ figghi di re, chi n’avìanu, no mamma e no patri. Sti du’ frati si volìanu beni di cori, e non c’era perìculu ca l’unu avissi mbìdia di l’autru, comu succedi spissu tra fratelli. Nu jornu, standu tutti li dui a tàula, si mangiàvanu na ricotta. Comu lu grandi jiva mi la tàgghia, sta ricotta, sbagliau lu corpu e, cu lu cuteddu, si tagghiau lu jìditu. La ricotta arrestau macchiata di sangu. Dissi lu feritu: – Varda, frati meu, chi faci bellu stu sangu russu, supra la ricotta janca! Se jeu trovarrìa na mugghieri accussì janca e russa, mi la pigghiarrìa vulenteri. 

Una volta c’erano due figli di un re, che non avevano né mamma né padre. Questi due fratelli si volevano bene con tutto il cuore, e non c’era pericolo che uno fosse invidioso dell’altro, come succede spesso tra fratelli. Un giorno, erano tutti e due a tavola e stavano mangiando una ricotta. Quand’ecco che il grande fa per tagliarla, sbaglia il colpo e invece della ricotta si taglia un dito. La ricotta rimase macchiata di sangue. E il ferito disse: «Guarda, fratello mio, com’è bello questo sangue rosso sopra la ricotta bianca! Se trovassi una moglie bianca e rossa così, me la prenderei volentieri».
_{Tratta da L. Di Francia, Fiabe e novelle calabresi}

Once upon a time there were two sons of a king, who had neither mother nor father. These two brothers loved each other wholeheartedly, and there was no danger of one being envious of the other, as it often happens between brothers. One day, they were both at the table eating ricotta cheese. When the oldest one is about to cut it, he misses the point and cuts his finger instead of the ricotta. The ricotta was stained with blood. And the wounded man said: «Look, my brother, how beautiful this red blood is on top of the white ricotta! If I could find a red-and-white wife like that, I'd gladly take her."

In preda alla disperazione, Glauco si rivolse alla maga Circe, dea figlia di Elio e della ninfa Perseide, famosa per i suoi incantesimi in grado di cambiare le sembianze degli uomini. Egli desiderava un bell’aspetto per attrarre l’amata Scilla a sé. Ma l’unico risultato che Glauco ottenne fu quello di scatenare la gelosia della maga che tentò di sedurre l’uomo-pesce. Rifiutata da Glauco, Circe scatenò la sua furia su Scilla trasformandola in un feroce mostro munito di sei teste di cane latranti.

Secondo la leggenda, in preda alla disperazione Scilla si rifugiò in una grotta sotto la Rocca dove sorge il Castello e che esiste ancora oggi. In prossimità di alcuni scogli, a pochi chilometri da Cariddi che abita la sponda Sicula. Prima di essere un mostro, Cariddi era una naiade, figlia di Poseidone e Gea, dedita alle rapine e famosa per la sua voracità. Un giorno rubò a Eracle i buoi di Gerione e ne mangiò alcuni. Così Zeus la fulminò, gettandola poi in mare, dove mutò in un gigantesco mostro marino spaventoso. Cariddi divenne così la creatura più temuta, infestando le acque della sponda messinese con la sua furia.

In desperation, Glaucus turned to the sorceress Circe, goddess daughter of Helios and the Perseid nymph, famous for her spells capable of changing the appearance of men. He wanted a good look to attract his beloved Scilla to him. But the only result that Glaucus obtained was to unleash the jealousy of the sorceress who tried to seduce the fish-man. Rejected by Glauco, Circe unleashed her fury on her Scilla of her transforming her into a ferocious monster equipped with six barking dog heads.
According to legend, in desperation Scilla took refuge in a cave under the fortress where the castle stands and which still exists today. Near some rocks, a few kilometers from Cariddi who lives on the Sicilian shore. Before being a monster, Cariddi was a naiad, daughter of Poseidon and Gea, dedicated to robberies and famous for her voracity. One day she stole Geryon's oxen from Heracles and ate some of them. So Zeus electrocuted her, then threw her into the sea, where she mutated into a gigantic scary sea monster. Cariddi thus became the most feared creature, infesting the waters of the Messina shore with her fury.

Nel XVI secolo papa Giulio II ordinò di costruirlo sopra un precedente tempio che l'imperatore Costantino fece erigere nel IV secolo d.C. e che rimase in piedi per oltre mille anni. Oltre a essere un'icona religiosa, la Basilica di San Pietro è anche un capolavoro dell'arte.

Al progetto parteciparono grandi artisti come Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Michelangelo, Giacomo Della Porta, Donato d'Angelo Bramante o Carlo Maderno e le opere durarono per quasi 2 secoli.

St. Peter's Basilica is the largest Christian temple in the world and an important spiritual symbol for Catholics, as it was erected over the tomb of St. Peter the Apostle (the first Pope in history) who was martyred in Rome and whose remains rest in the inside it.
In the 16th century, Pope Julius II ordered it to be built on top of a previous temple that the emperor Constantine had built in the 4th century A.D.. and which stood for over a thousand years. In addition to being a religious icon, St. Peter's Basilica is also a masterpiece of art.
Great artists such as Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Michelangelo, Giacomo Della Porta, Donato d'Angelo Bramante or Carlo Maderno took part in the project and the works lasted for almost 2 centuries.

La sua storia risale all'epoca dell'imperatore Augusto, quando questa fontana costituiva il tratto finale dell'acquedotto Aqua Virgo costruito nel I secolo a.C. Tuttavia, la fontana attuale risale al XVII secolo e fu commissionata da Papa Clemente XII all'architetto Nicola Salvi, che sorprese tutti con questa allegoria dell'oceano presieduta dal dio Nettuno.

Ed è qualcosa che accade per generazioni, perché quando si guarda la Fontana di Trevi dal davanti si rimane colpiti dal contrasto tra le piccole dimensioni della piazza in cui sorge e la monumentalità della fontana stessa.

The Trevi Fountain is one of the largest monuments in Rome and therefore one of the most visited places in the city. The reason is simple: it is the most beautiful fountain in the world.
Its history dates back to the time of Emperor Augustus, when this fountain formed the final stretch of the Aqua Virgo aqueduct built in the 1st century BC. However, the current fountain dates back to the 17th century and was commissioned by Pope Clement XII to the architect Nicola Salvi, who surprised everyone with this allegory of the ocean presided over by the god Neptune.
And it is something that happens for generations, because when you look at the Trevi Fountain from the front, you are struck by the contrast between the small size of the square in which it stands and the monumentality of the fountain itself.

Commissionato da Giulio II, fu una vera sfida per l'artista, che dedicò dieci anni della sua vita alla decorazione della volta e della parete di fondo sopra l'altare maggiore: il risultato è una meraviglia. Tuttavia, altri artisti che hanno lavorato in questo spazio sono stati Botticelli, Perugino o Luca.

È innegabile che questo sia uno dei luoghi essenziali da vedere a Roma durante un viaggio! La Cappella Sistina si trova vicino alla Basilica di San Pietro, all'interno del percorso di visita dei Musei Vaticani.

The Sistine Chapel is one of Rome's greatest Renaissance jewels and is Michelangelo's masterpiece.
Commissioned by Julius II, it was a real challenge for the artist, who dedicated ten years of his life to decorating the vault and the back wall above the high altar: the result is marvellous. However, other artists who have worked in this space have been Botticelli, Perugino or Luca.
It is undeniable that this is one of the essential places to see in Rome during a trip! The Sistine Chapel is located near St. Peter's Basilica, within the visit itinerary of the Vatican Museums.

Napoli è la capitale della regione Campania. La città è il terzo comune più popoloso (città propria) d'Italia, ma la seconda area metropolitana, dopo Milano. Fu fondata tra il VII e il VI secolo a.C. dai Greci e fu chiamata Neapolis, che significa nuova città. 
Napoli è una città con un patrimonio artistico, culturale e storico inestimabile, un luogo in cui sono decine i musei, i palazzi, i monumenti, i parchi e le chiese da visitare assolutamente, ma anche un vero e proprio museo a cielo aperto in cui rimanere stupiti anche solo passeggiando.

Naples is the capital of the Campania region. The city is the third most populous comune (city proper) in Italy, but the second largest metropolitan area, after Milan. It was founded between the 7th and 6th century B.C.. by the Greeks and was called Neapolis, which means new city.
Naples is a city with an invaluable artistic, cultural and historical heritage, a place where there are dozens of museums, palaces, monuments, parks and churches to visit absolutely, but also a real open-air museum where be amazed even just walking around.

La sua costruzione iniziò nel 72 d.C. durante il regno dell'imperatore Vespasiano e per più di cinque secoli ospitò i più svariati spettacoli goduti dalla popolazione dell'epoca: battaglie navali, combattimenti tra gladiatori, lotte tra bestie selvatiche ed esecuzioni pubbliche di prigionieri, tra gli altri.

Gli ultimi giochi disputati nel Colosseo si svolsero nel VI secolo d.C. e, nonostante i numerosi incendi, terremoti e saccheggi durante il Medioevo, questo monumento iconico continua a dominare l'imponente paesaggio.

The Colosseum is the most important monument of Rome and a symbol of the city. With around two millennia of antiquity it is the largest amphitheater built during the Roman Empire, as it had a capacity of 50,000 spectators and no other building surpassed this figure until the 20th century.
Its construction began in 72 A.C. during the reign of the emperor Vespasian and for more than five centuries it hosted the most varied shows enjoyed by the population of the time: naval battles, gladiator fights, fights between wild beasts and public executions of prisoners, among others.
The last games held in the Colosseum took place in the 6th century A.D. and, despite numerous fires, earthquakes and looting during the Middle Ages, this iconic monument continues to dominate the imposing landscape

La pizza napoletana nasce intorno al 1600 dall’enorme ingegno culinario napoletano, bisognoso di rendere più gustosa e saporita la tradizionale schiacciata di pane. Inizialmente, si trattava di pasta per pane cotta in forni a legna, condita con aglio, strutto, sale grosso e talvolta caciocavallo e basilico. Bisognerà aspettare però fino alla seconda metà del 1800 per trovare la prima classica pizza “pomodoro e mozzarella” come la conosciamo; stiamo parlando precisamente del 1889, anno in cui ci fu a Napoli una visita degli allora sovrani d’Italia Re Umberto I e Regina Margherita.

The Neapolitan pizza was born around 1600 from the enormous Neapolitan culinary ingenuity, in need of making the traditional crushed bread more tasty and flavoursome. Initially, it was bread dough cooked in wood ovens, seasoned with garlic, lard, coarse salt and sometimes caciocavallo cheese and basil. However, we will have to wait until the second half of the 1800s to find the first classic "tomato and mozzarella" pizza as we know it; we are talking precisely about 1889, the year in which there was a visit to Naples by the then sovereigns of Italy, King Umberto I and Queen Margherita.

Un contadino trovò un giorno in un terreno una testa di bufala che, per non essere schiacciata con la zappa, gli promise di fare la fortuna di una delle sue tre figlie. Portatala a casa, solo la più piccola la apprezzò e volle tenerla con sé , tanto da affezionarsi e chiamarla "mamma". Diventata ormai grandicella, la ragazza diede un giorno ospitalità al figlio del re, arrivato fradicio alla sua porta. In poco tempo i due si innamorarono e si vollero sposare. Ma nei preparativi per le nozze, la ragazza si dimenticò di sua madre e venne punita per la sua ingratitudine trasformandosi in una brutta testa di bufala lei stessa. Riuscì con la magia e l'aiuto della madre a superare tre prove imposte dalla madre del principe, a recuperare le sue fattezze e a sposare il suo innamorato.

One day a farmer found a buffalo head in the ground which, in order not to be crushed with a hoe, promised him to make the fortune of one of his three daughters. Take her home, only the youngest of her appreciated her and wanted to keep her with her, so much to become attached and call her "mom". Now grown up, the girl gave hospitality to the king's son one day, who arrived soaked at his door. In a short time the two fell in love and wanted to get married. But in the preparations for the wedding, the girl forgot her mother and was punished for her ingratitude by turning into an ugly buffalo herself. She managed with magic and the help of her mother to pass three tests imposed by the mother of the prince, to recover her features and to marry her lover.

In Northern Italy, popular music is influenced by some Celtic and Balkan influences. As for vocal music, it has multiple voices and is syllabic in type. The most frequent composition is Baccata, a song of a narrative nature through which tragic episodes are described. Instrumental music is in many cases linked to the different forms of dance, which maintain a rather marked rhythm: Monferrina or Manfrina, Giga, Valzer, Polka, Mazurka and Trescone. Among the instruments, the accordion is very common, alongside the violin, the riva, and other wind instruments, fifes, clarinets and brass.

Solo Ninetta non volle andarci con le sorelle ma di nascosto, trasformata in dama dal suo ramo di datteri fatato. 
Il Reuzzo la vide e la riconobbe, così bella e splendente come non era mai stata, e la chiese in sposa al padre per suo figlio.
Loro restarono felici e contenti
E noi siam qui che ci freghiamo i denti.

A merchant had three grown up daughters: Rosa, Giovannina and Ninetta.
Once upon a time he wanted to give up a good deal so as not to leave them alone at home. However, his daughters invited him to leave peacefully, after having the doors walled up with them inside on the condition that they bring him a dress the color of the sky, one the color of diamonds and a beautiful branch of dates in a silver vase, on pain of blocking the ship on which he was traveling.
The merchant left, concluded his business and, having bought the clothes, embarked, forgetting the dates until he found himself in the middle of a terrible storm. To save himself, he was forced to return to port and buy them.
While the merchant was away. to pick up a thimble that fell into a well, the third daughter, Ninetta, found the garden of the kind of Portugal inside, where she slipped to fill herself with the best fruits and flowers that grew there. When she saw her flowerbeds looted, the king wanted to understand why and discovered Ninetta,
she was as beautiful as a fairy: from that day he had no more peace, he fell ill and, to find the girl, a dance was called.
Meanwhile, the merchant had returned from his journey and was forced, like all the fathers of the kingdom, to take his daughters to the palace.
Only Ninetta didn't want to go there with her sisters but in secret, transformed into a lady by her fairy branch of dates.
The king saw her and recognized her as hers, as beautiful and shining as she had never been hers, and asked her father to marry her for her son.
They remained happy and content
And here we are rubbing our teeth.

Vestita da finto medico, riesce a guarirlo e a svelargli il tradimento delle sorelle. Così poterono sposarsi e volersi bene per tutta la vita.

Once an old man had three daughters, the youngest of whom sent his father to offer her hand to the King of Fava. The King accompanied her refusal by giving him a handkerchief to dry the girl's tears. She this she insists to her father to come back again. On the third time, the King accepts the marriage provided that the girl prepares three tubs, one full of water and milk, one of milk and one of rose water and that, if she wanted to see him, she would have had to look out the window and throw some grain of broad beans. The girl did it all. Her jealous sisters, however, put pieces of glass in the tubs and the King, immersing himself, was injured. The girl immediately looked for a remedy and she knew that she could save him by anointing him with the blood of a witch mixed with that of a pigeon and then washing him.
Dressed as a fake doctor, she manages to heal him and reveal the betrayal of the sisters. So they could get married and love each other for life.