Lo Specchio di Venere, a Pantelleria, è un lago a forma di cuore che occupa il fondo antichissimo di una caldera e viene alimentato dalla pioggia e da sorgenti termali da cui scaturisce acqua a 40-50 gradi di temperatura. È un luogo magico, caro a Venere, moglie di Vulcano, che vi si specchiava prima… Read More Pantelleria: lo Specchio di Venere
Pantelleria, the largest volcanic satellite island of Sicily, was conquered by the Arabs in 700 AD: they named it “ بنت الرياح Bint al-Riyāḥ” or “the daughter of the winds”, due to the strong winds that arise off the north coast of Africa. The Arabs are attributed many of the most characteristic elements of its… Read More Pantelleria: what’s in a name?
Questa terra “sperduta a occidente” è quella che Omero chiamava Ogigia, il luogo in cui Ulisse e la ninfa Calipso si amarono per sette anni. Calipso, una bellissima ninfa, era stata costretta dagli dei, per punizione, a rimanere su Ogigia, un’isola che non ne ha altre nelle vicinanze, dove le Moire mandavano eroi bellissimi ed… Read More Pantelleria
Nasreddin or Nasreddin Hodja was a satirical Sufi who lived in the 13th century . He is considered a populist philosopher and wise man, remembered for his funny stories, which usually have a subtle humour and a pedagogic nature. One day, a neighbour who Nasreddin didn’t like very much came over to… Read More Nasreddin
A beautiful and very sad legend explains the origin of the name of Samarkand. The story is about two young lovers. The girl was called Kant (“sugar”) and she was the king’s daughter. Instead, the boy, whose name was Samar, belonged to a poor family. They fell in love with each other but when Kant’s… Read More The name Samarkand
How Khiva got its name Many years ago, between the Central Asian deserts of the Kyzyl-Kum and Kaza-kum, on the spot where Khiva now stands, there was a very small settlement, which had no name. Very kind and friendly people lived there, and because of their fresh clean water, hundreds of caravans carrying silk, cloth,… Read More Khiva’s water
Bibi-Khanym majestic and grandiose mosque was built by the Tamerlane’s youngest and favourite wife, Bibi Khanym, as a gift on his return from a military campaign in India. The mosque was to be the most grandiose creation in Samarkand, but almost all architects refused the task because the work was really hard. Only one… Read More The fatal kiss
Il ciuffo di crine di cavallo che penzola da un palo di legno segnala che qui è sepolto un uomo pio, considerato santo. E’ la Tomba del profeta Daniele a Samarcanda, in Uzbekistan: si tratta di un basso edificio sormontato da cinque piccole cupole al cui interno è conservato un sarcofago lungo 18 metri. Si… Read More La Tomba di Daniele
Well, if you want to sing out, sing out And if you want to be free, be free ‘Cause there’s a million things to be You know that there are And if you want to live high, live high And if you want to live low, live low ‘Cause there’s a million ways to go… Read More Cat Stevens: ” IF YOU WANT TO SING OUT” (Harold & Maude’s soundtrack)
The music in Harold and Maude was composed and performed by Cat Stevens. It was Elton John who asked him to do the music after he had dropped out of the project. Stevens composed two original songs for the film, “Don’t Be Shy” and “If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out” and performed instrumental… Read More Harold & Maude – A song: “Don’t Be Shy”
