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?
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
RONDINI Nugoli di rondini isteriche solcano il grigio del cielo costellandolo di lugubri sagome nere disperate per l’incombente esplosione della tempesta.
La notte del 15 agosto, a Colico (lago di Como), c’è stato lo spettacolo delle “fontane danzanti”, magici giochi di luce, musica, acqua e fuoco Fontane di luce danzano vicino alle acque del lago nel ventre molle della notte
Una colata d’oro non intimidisce l’incedere pigro di un’anatra felice Anche due svassi si cullano tra mille scintille, lasciandosi trasportare come barchette di carta su di un fiume tranquillo
