L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, AUGUST 24 2023 www.italoamericano.org 16 L'Italo-Americano N estled amidst t h e p i c - turesque land- scapes of the L a z i o r e g i o n lies a village that has recent- ly been crowned the most beautiful in the country for 2023: Ronciglione. This accolade is no small feat if you think of the competi- tion! But what makes Ron- ciglione stand out in a nation rife with scenic towns and h i s t o r i c a l m a r v e l s ? W e l l , let's explore together this beautiful hamlet and find out, what do you think? Toponomy and history are always a good place to start. T h e o r i g i n s o f R o n - c i g l i o n e ' s n a m e r e m a i n a subject of debate among his- t o r i a n s : s o m e b e l i e v e i t s t e m s f r o m t h e E t r u s c a n root rum or rom, while oth- ers argue it might be derived f r o m t h e w o r d s r u n c o l a or roncilio, referencing the village's ancient iron tools m a n u f a c t u r i n g . Y e t , t h e most widely accepted theory s u g g e s t s t h e n a m e i s inspired by the cliff's shape resembling a roncola, upon which the ancient settlement was built. Historical records first m e n t i o n R o n c i g l i o n e i n 1103, with its foundation believed to have taken place around 1045, under the Pre- fects of Vico's influence. The village flourished notably under the Farnese family's rule between 1526 and 1649, becoming an economically a d v a n c e d c e n t e r w i t h a plethora of manufacturing units, including ironworks, p a p e r m i l l s , c e r a m i c s , a r m o r i e s , a n d p r i n t i n g presses. This era also wit- n e s s e d a c u l t u r a l r e n a i s - sance, with various acade- mies and printing houses producing notable works. But, as you would expect from a charming village with an ancient history, there are also interesting tales sur- rounding Ronciglione, like the one about Hercules hav- ing visited it: legend has it that the Lake of Vico was formed when Hercules, in a d i s p l a y o f h i s i m m e n s e strength, pulled out a club he had previously thrust into the ground. This act caused water to gush out, forming the lake. It was on this occa- sion that the demigod visited Ronciglione, driven by his quest for the nymphs Melis- sa and Amaltea. A n d w h i l e w e m a y n o t meet Hercules around Ron- ciglione's streets, there are m a n y m a n y n a t u r a l a n d a r c h i t e c t u r a l w o n d e r s t o enjoy in town and in its sur- r o u n d i n g s . T h e m e d i e v a l R o c c a i s c e r t a i n l y o n e o f them: it was constructed by t h e P r e f e c t s o f V i c o a n d underwent significant modi- fications under Pope Sixtus IV when it became the iconic castle known today as I Tor- rioni. The Fontana Grande or degli Unicorni, crafted by architect Antonio Gentili da Faenza, is a marvel in sand- stone, featuring three uni- corns from whose mouths water flows into the basins below. The Porta Romana, built in 1618, demarcates the historical town center from t h e s o u t h e r n a r e a o f t h e commune. Not far from the village, nature lovers can enjoy the beauty of Lake of Vico, c o n s i d e r e d o n e o f I t a l y ' s b e s t - p r e s e r v e d v o l c a n i c lakes, and known for its par- ticular flora and fauna. Let's move back into town and take a look at the many events and traditions that put Ronciglione on the map. The first we should mention i s t h e C a r n e v a l e d i R o n - ciglione, an event that traces back over three centuries and is among Central Italy's oldest carnevali; then we have the Palio di San Bar- tolomeo, a unique horse race where horses run without j o c k e y s , a t r i b u t e t o t h i s majestic and beautiful ani- mal. Then, we have the Palio di Vico, a much-anticipated lake festival, culminating in a rowing regatta. And if you decide to stay in town for a couple o days, you'll have the opportunity to enjoy Ronciglione's amaz- i n g c u i s i n e : its tortorelli are a simple pasta made from water and flour, traditionally enjoyed during Sunday lunches, and if you end up there around Christmas, you can try pam- p a p a t o , a f e s t i v e t r e a t made primarily from local hazelnuts and chocolate. All in all, I think that Ron- ciglione's recent recognition as the most beautiful village of 2023 is well-deserved: its r i c h h i s t o r y a n d c u l t u r e , a l o n g w i t h t h e s t u n n i n g landscapes that surround it, make it a must-visit destina- tion. And while we immerse ourselves in its tales and tra- ditions, we can't help but wonder what other hidden gems Italy holds for us to discover. I taly's Salento region r e s o n a t e s w i t h a r h y t h m i c b e a t t h a t brings a dance tradi- tion to life: we are in t h e a n c i e n t a r e a o f the Grecìa Salentina, where a g r o u p o f t o w n s a n d v i l - lages, along with the Diego Carpitella Institute created, a l m o s t 3 0 y e a r s a g o , L a Notte della Taranta , a festival celebrating tradition- al taranta. The festival, founded in 1 9 9 8 , h a s i t s r o o t s i n t h e ancient dance of taranta, a folk tradition that dates back centuries and is linked to the myth of the tarantula spider, whose bite was believed to cause a hysterical condition known as tarantism. The o n l y c u r e w a s t o d a n c e the taranta, a wild and fren- zied dance that allowed the afflicted to release their pent- up emotions. Through its many editions - this year's is its 26th - La Notte della Taranta evolved from a local tradition to an international phenomenon, attracting over 200,000 visi- tors each year. The festival's importance lies in its ability t o p r e s e r v e a n d p r o m o t e S a l e n t o ' s u n i q u e h e r i t a g e while fostering collaboration between local and interna- tional artists. Indeed, the fes- tival has seen participation from renowned musicians a n d c o n d u c t o r s , s u c h a s Ludovico Einaudi, Phil Man- z a n e r a , a n d S t e w a r t C o p e l a n d . T h i s y e a r , t h e event promises an exciting lineup, featuring both local t a l e n t s a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l stars, all coming together to celebrate the Taranta dance. The festival's unique and innovative formula culmi- nates in the grand Concer- tone finale in Melpignano (LE), a mesmerizing event that draws nearly one hun- dred and fifty thousand spec- tators: even the rehearsal the day before is followed by tens of thousands. This year's spe- cial guest for the Concerto- ne is famous Italian pop sin- g e r A r i s a , a F e s t i v a l d i Sanremo winner. But what really sets this festival apart is the presence of a Maestro Concertatore, i n v i t e d t o r e i n t e r p r e t t h e "classics" of local musical tra- dition: assisted by a group of a b o u t t h i r t y o f S a l e n t o ' s finest musicians, along with e x c e p t i o n a l n a t i o n a l a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l g u e s t s , t h e Maestro breathes new life into age-old melodies, bring- ing tradition into modernity. I f y o u w i s h t o experience La Notte della Taranta this year, you are still in time, at least if you are in Puglia already: the Con- c e r t o n e i s o n t h e 2 6 t h o f August! Two young dancers of Taranta, the music and dancing style celebrated during the Notte della Taranta (Photo: znatalias/Shutterstock) A panorama of Ronciglione showing the beauty of its Medieval architecture (Photo: Mikolaj64/Dreamstime) La Notte della Taranta Ronciglione: the most beautiful Italian village of 2023 LA VITA ITALIANA TRADITIONS HISTORY CULTURE

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