L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2024 www.italoamericano.org 16 L'Italo-Americano I n t h e l i t t l e t o w n o f Bevagna, Umbria, we f i n d a n e x a m p l e o f long-lasting Made in Italy craftsmanship, established almost 800 years a g o . T h e C e r e r i a Medievale di Bevagna, founded in 1250, carries its age with nonchalance. As part of the broader cultural initia- t i v e w i t h i n t h e M e r c a t o delle Gaite, this workshop revives the ancient art of can- dle making, preserving tech- n i q u e s t h a t d a t e b a c k t o medieval times. With its history and com- m i t m e n t t o t r a d i t i o n , t h e Cereria embodies artisanal excellence and reflects the profound respect for tradition that Italy is known for. This workshop, integral to the local community and its history, offers a window into the past while also demonstrating how historical practices can be p r e s e r v e d a n d a d a p t e d t o modern times. Here, the spirit o f " M a d e i n I t a l y " s h i n e s t h r o u g h t h e d e d i c a t i o n t o maintaining the authenticity of medieval techniques while embracing contemporary val- ues like sustainability and education. The origins of the Cereria Medievale are deeply con- n e c t e d w i t h B e v a g n a ' s medieval history. During the M i d d l e A g e s , t h i s l i t t l e Umbrian town was a flourish- ing trade center, renowned f o r i t s m a r k e t s a n d f a i r s , which drew merchants from across the region. Among the many crafts practiced, candle making was a vital industry, driven by the necessity for light in an era when electricity was centuries away. T o d a y , t h e C e r e r i a M e d i e v a l e c o n t i n u e s t o employ traditional methods in its candle production. Arti- sans at the workshop use locally sourced beeswax and natural hemp wicks, follow- ing a meticulous process of melting, pouring, and mold- ing the wax around the wick. A c o u p l e o f y e a r s a g o , Marco Gasparrini of the C e r e r i a t a l k e d t o V o g u e Italia about the beauty of his job and explained how he and his fellow artisans still use old techniques to pro- d u c e , a m o n g o t h e r s , t h e w o r k s h o p ' s s i g n a t u r e duplero candles—double- wicked creations known for t h e i r b r i g h t e r f l a m e a n d longer burn time. Gasparrini also discussed the sense of wonder he feels when finish- ing a candle "made through many a passage and many hours of work," after which he still feels like "magic hap- pens all over again, almost like I've never made a candle before." The great thing is that we can experience the magic, too, as the workshop is open to visitors Monday through Friday, from 10 am to 1 pm. Here, it's easy to find your- s e l f t r a n s p o r t e d i n t i m e , charmed by the simple yet profound act of traditional candle making. As part of the annual Mer- cato delle Gaite festival, the Cereria Medievale becomes a hub of activity and learn- ing. The festival, which recre- a t e s t h e a t m o s p h e r e o f a medieval market, features various artisans and crafts- men showcasing their skills. For the Cereria, this is an opportunity to demonstrate the candle-making process to a wide audience, engaging both locals and tourists in interactive workshops. These sessions allow participants to observe and also take part in creating their own candles, providing a hands-on experi- ence of historical crafts. But the commitment of the Cereria Medievale to pre- s e r v i n g m e d i e v a l c r a f t s extends beyond mere pro- d u c t i o n ; t h e w o r k s h o p i s actively involved in research a n d e d u c a t i o n a l p r o j e c t s aimed at promoting a deeper understanding of medieval life. This educational out- reach includes collaborations with local schools and cultur- al organizations, and the aim h e r e i s t w o f o l d : t o s h o w younger generations and the wider public the secrets of an ancient craft deeply connect- e d w i t h t h e a r e a a n d t o ensure this wealth of know- how can be passed down to future generations through education and dissemination. The Cereria Medievale di B e v a g n a a l s o a d d r e s s e s modern sensibilities and sus- tainability concerns. The use o f n a t u r a l m a t e r i a l s l i k e beeswax and hemp meets contemporary environmental values, appealing to a demo- g r a p h i c t h a t v a l u e s e c o - friendly and artisanal prod- ucts. Moreover, the workshop contributes to the local econ- omy providing employment opportunities and attracting tourism, which in turn sup- ports other local businesses and services. T h e i n v e n t i o n o f r a d a r , a n a c r o n y m f o r Radio Detection and Ranging, is a key development in techno- logy with significant military a n d c i v i l i a n a p p l i c a t i o n s . While radar's development w a s a c o l l a b o r a t i v e e f f o r t involving many scientists and countries, the foundational w o r k o f o u r v e r y o w n Guglielmo Marconi played a crucial role in its inception. Marconi, born in Bologna in 1874, is best known for his p i o n e e r i n g w o r k i n l o n g - distance radio transmission and wireless telegraphy. His experiments in the late 19th a n d e a r l y 2 0 t h c e n t u r i e s d e m o n s t r a t e d t h a t r a d i o waves could be used for com- munication over vast distan- ces, laying the groundwork for future developments in radio wave technology. Indeed, his invention of the wireless telegraph revolu- tionized communication and earned him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1909. Marconi's contributions w e r e i n s t r u m e n t a l i n t h e development of radar: in the early 1900s, Marconi conduc- ted experiments that revealed how radio waves could reflect off objects, leading him to speculate about the potential for detecting ships and other obstacles using radio waves. His demonstration of this concept provided the first glimpse into the possibilities of radar. As radio technology advanced, Marconi continued to push its boundaries, and his experiments with radio waves and their properties inspired further research into their applications, including detection and ranging. His work, in other words, laid the theoretical foundation for using radio waves to detect objects at a distance, a con- cept that would later become the core of radar technology. The development of radar technology accelerated in the 1930s and 1940s, with signifi- cant contributions from mul- tiple countries, especially in the United Kingdom where S i r R o b e r t W a t s o n - W a t t , often referred to as the father of radar, made substantial advancements. However, it was Marconi's early work that provided the essential under- standing of radio wave beha- vior that Watson-Watt and others built upon. D u r i n g W o r l d W a r I I , radar technology, based on the very principles first explo- red by Marconi, was rapidly developed and deployed by b o t h t h e A l l i e s a n d A x i s powers. After the end of the conflict, it continued to evolve and found numerous civilian applications, including air traffic control, weather fore- casting, and maritime naviga- tion. Today, radars are indispensable for air and sea travel (Photo: Cccsss/Dreamstime) Duplero candles made at the Cereria Medievale di Bevagna (Photo: Universal Images Group North America LLC / Alamy Stock Photo) The Radar: another symbol of Marconi's geniality Historical crafts are part of our Made in Italy, too: the Cereria Medievale di Bevagna IMPRESA ITALIA MADE IN ITALY TOP BRANDS BUSINESS & ECONOMY

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