L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2024 www.italoamericano.org 16 L'Italo-Americano F u r o r e , a l i t t l e village along the A m a l f i C o a s t b e t w e e n A m a l f i and Positano, is almost hiding in plain sight. Known as il paese che non c ' è ( " t h e v i l l a g e t h a t i s n ' t there"), it is a collection of scattered houses and unique natural spots that make it seem like a place out of a f a i r y t a l e . I n d e e d , t h i s unique geography and layout make Furore blend into the n a t u r a l l a n d s c a p e , w h i c h g i v e s i t a v e r y u n u s u a l , almost mystical atmosphere. Situated approximately 8 kilometers from Amalfi and a b o u t 3 0 f r o m S a l e r n o , Furore lies 300 meters above sea level and offers its visi- tors stunning views of the f a m o u s c o a s t l i n e i t o v e r - looks. The village is accessi- ble by the Amalfi State Road 163, and while driving offers scenic views, parking can be a challenge, so keep that in mind. Indeed, many visitors opt to take the SITA bus ser- vices, which provide conve- n i e n t c o n n e c t i o n s f r o m Salerno, Naples, and Sorren- to. The village's history dates back to Roman times, with its name likely deriving from the Latin word furor due to the roaring sound of the sea in the fjord during stormy weather. But there are also s o m e i n t e r e s t i n g l e g e n d s about it: according to one, the village's original name was Terra Furoris (Latin for " t h e l a n d o f f u r y " ) a n d comes from an epic battle where the villagers expelled the Devil himself from their land. In his rage, the Devil cursed the area with nettles and left a lasting footprint, known as the pedata, which remains visible to this day. Another legend speaks of the villagers' tumultuous r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h t h e i r patron saints—Santo Jaco, S a n t ' A g n e l l o , a n d S a n - t'Elia—each facing the ire of t h e t o w n s f o l k i n u n i q u e ways. During the Middle Ages, Furore became part of the M a r i t i m e R e p u b l i c o f Amalfi and, later, an inde- pendent municipality. Its l o c a t i o n m a d e i t l a r g e l y inaccessible, protecting it f r o m i n v a s i o n s s u c h a s those by the Saracens. The beauty of Furore Furore is probably best k n o w n f o r i t s F i o r d o , a narrow fjord formed by the erosive action of the Schiato River: this natural inlet is s u r r o u n d e d b y d r a m a t i c cliffs and features a small pebble beach accessible via a steep staircase. The fjord is also famous for hosting the annual MarMeeting, a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l d i v i n g competition where partici- pants dive from heights of up to 28 meters. The Muri in Cerca d'Autore pro- ject, which turned the vil- l a g e i n t o a n o p e n - a i r a r t gallery, is also very famous: it started in the 1980s and, t h r o u g h t h e y e a r s , i t brought to Furore artists from around the world to p a i n t m u r a l s a b o u t l o c a l life, history, and myths. Religious and histori- cal sites Furore is home to several historic churches, including the Church of San Giaco- mo, dating back to the 11th century, which houses fres- coes from the Giotto school. The Church of Sant'Elia, built in the 13th century, features a wooden triptych b y A n g e l o A n t o n e l l o d a Capua; the Church of San Michele and the Church o f S a n t a M a r i a d e l l a Pietà also hold significant historical and artistic value, with the latter being known for its pre-Napoleonic ceme- tery. C u i s i n e , t r a d i t i o n s and curiosities T h e v i l l a g e ' s s i g n a t u r e dish, totani e patate, per- fectly represents the blend of land and sea flavors that define local cuisine. Once u p o n a t i m e , t h i s h e a r t y meal was created by farmer- f i s h e r m e n w h o s o u g h t t o feed their large families by stretching the catch of the d a y w i t h t h e a d d i t i o n o f p o t a t o e s , s o t h a t n o o n e went hungry. Furore's culinary scene is f u r t h e r e n r i c h e d b y l o c a l produce: the piennolo, a variety of small, flavorful t o m a t o e s , i s o f t e n s e e n hanging in clusters outside homes but the vine is, here, the true queen. As one of the t h r e e d i s t i n g u i s h e d s u b - zones of the Costa d'Amalfi DOC, Furore's vineyards are cultivated on steep, terraced slopes, and contribute to the village's well-earned title of C i t t à d e l V i n o ( C i t y o f Wine). T h e A r e n a d i Verona Opera F e s t i v a l w a s e s t a b l i s h e d i n 1913, to celebrate the centenary of the birth of Giuseppe Verdi. The inau- g u r a l p e r f o r m a n c e w a s Verdi's Aida, chosen for its g r a n d i o s e a n d d r a m a t i c q u a l i t i e s , w h i c h p e r f e c t l y suited the majestic setting of t h e a n c i e n t R o m a n a m p h i t h e a t e r i n V e r o n a . Indeed, the arena itself is a marvel of Roman engineer- ing, built in the first century AD: originally designed to h o s t g l a d i a t o r i a l c o n t e s t s and other public spectacles, today it serves as a monu- m e n t a l o p e n - a i r o p e r a house, also in name of its remarkable acoustics and vast seating capacity, which make it an ideal location for large-scale operatic produc- tions. Over the decades, the fes- tival hosted legendary per- f o r m e r s s u c h a s M a r i a Callas, Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, and Rena- t a T e b a l d i , a n d b e c a m e a symbol of Italian operatic excellence, synonymous with high-quality performances and spectacular productions. T h e F e s t i v a l t y p i c a l l y takes place during the sum- mer months, from June to A u g u s t , a s t h e s u m m e r offers ideal weather condi- t i o n s f o r o u t d o o r p e r f o r - mances. The 2024 Opera Festival will take place from June 7 to Septem- ber 7, marking its 101st edi- tion, a particularly important o n e a s i t c o m e s a f t e r l a s t December's entry of Italian opera in the UNESCO World Heritage. The festival will open with a grand gala on June 7, followed by major p r o d u c t i o n s i n c l u d i n g Turandot by Puccini (June 8), Aida by Verdi (June 14 and August 10), Carmen by Bizet (July 5 to September 7 ) , L a B o h è m e b y P u c c i n i (July 19 and 27), Tosca by Puccini (August 2 to 30), and T h e B a r b e r o f S e v i l l e b y Rossini (June 21 to Septem- ber 6) . Special performances will also take place including include Roberto Bolle and F r i e n d s ( J u l y 2 3 - 2 4 ) , Beethoven's Ninth Sympho- n y ( A u g u s t 1 1 ) , P l á c i d o Domingo Noche Española (August 21), and Carmina Burana (September 1). Fea- turing renowned artists like Anna Netrebko and Plácido Domingo, the festival will b r i n g t o g e t h e r , a s u s u a l , operatic excellence with the u n i q u e a m b i a n c e o f t h e a n c i e n t A r e n a d i V e r o n a , attracting global audiences and enriching Verona's cul- tural heritage . The Arena stage ready for the Aida (Photo: Meinzahn/Dreamstime) The bridge overlooking the Furore fjord (Photo: Serhii Nemyrivskyi/Dreamstime) T h e m a g i c o f t h e A r e n a d i Verona Opera Festival Furore, il paese che non c'è LA VITA ITALIANA TRADITIONS HISTORY CULTURE

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