L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2017 www.italoamericano.org 14 L'Italo-Americano FRANCESCA BEZZONE I slands: is there anything con- c o c t i n g m o r e p e r f e c t l y together thoughts of wilder- ness, mystery and beauty? An island is a world apart, secluded from the rest of humanity by an e n d l e s s s k y - l i k e e x p a n s e o f w a t e r . L a n d s u r r o u n d e d b y water than looks like precious stones, the sun playfully trans- forming waves into jewels. On these little, special worlds surrounded by incredible water, more gems can be found: Italian small villages, or borghi, as we call them, have a magical charm of their own. If you are lucky enough to have spent some time in any of them, you probably agree with me when I say it feels like time has incredibly stopped at some stage between the late 40s and the early 50s: you would expect a young Sophia Loren to turn t h e c o r n e r o f t h e P i a z z a Municipale, brightening the day and the lives of all presents with one of her carat gold smiles. Yet, in so many ways, it is thanks to progress and moderni- ty that these places have man- aged to keep their beauty intact. Careful artistic restoration and environmental maintenance pro- grams, the rise of tourism and the financial security that comes with it, all the way down to cul- tural associations operating at national and international level: all contributed to make of these villages the gems they are. B o r g h i o f o u r i s l a n d s a r e somehow even more special, because so much of their histo- ry, fortunes and –indeed - mis- fortunes, has been dictated by the fact they lay on such seclud- ed strips of land. Among them, some truly deserve to be visited for their beauty and uniqueness, and may transform your next trip into an incredibly pleasur- able adventure into an Italy of times long gone. Murano (Murano Island) I was 17 when I walked the c o l o r f u l , t i m e l e s s a l l e y s o f Murano for the first time. It was a school trip and I have a clear m e m o r y o f w i s h i n g I c o u l d move there straight away: who needed school, friends, universi- ty, money, when you could live in a place so incredibly beauti- ful? The first thing that strikes visitors of Murano, I believe, is how fairy-like it looks. Small, by all accounts, built on water, its homes the colors of the rain- bow. But Murano is a hub of art and culture, too, and this should not be forgotten. Built on seven s m a l l i s l a n d s o n t h e M a r a n i Canal, Murano is one of the most densely populated areas of the Venetian Lagoon. Of course, most of us knows Murano for the beauty and artistry behind its glass production, the tradi- tion of which goes back as far as the 13th century, but there is much more than that to appreci- ate. Art and history buffs may like to visit the Duomo of Santi Maria e Donato, a beautifully decorated church with mosaic floors very likely contemporary to those of Saint Mark in nearby Venice or Santa Maria degli Angeli, which was used, at the beginning of the 20th century, as a lazaretto when the Lagoon was hit by a cholera epidemic. Murano has kept its charm unaltered throughout the cen- turies and it is a definite must- see if you are heading to Venice. Anacapri (Capri Island) C a p r i : s o b e a u t i f u l , s o enchanting emperors made it their home, in ancient Roman t i m e s . S o e x c l u s i v e t o b e a favored hot spot for the Dolce Vita's VIPs of the 1950s and 1960s. Anacapri is Capri's mysteri- ous, slightly wild but equally beautiful sister, the place you have to go if you want to stare straight into the island's soul. Where Capri is glitz and glam- our, Anacapri is local old fash- i o n e d c o l o r s a n d t r a d i t i o n . Where Capri is Prada, Gucci and high end shoes, Anacapri is local crafts and homemade food, the d e e p b r o w n e y e s o f a M e d i t e r r a n e a n c o u n t r y g i r l . Anacapri is the essence of the island, where Capri is its - just as beautiful, mind- more superfi- cial golden veneer. C h e c k o u t v i a G i u s e p p e O r l a n d i f o r i n c r e d i b l e l o c a l crafts and the church of Santa Sofia, with its baroque façade a n d R e n a i s s a n c e i n t e r i o r . N o t a b l e i s a l s o V i l l a S a n Michele, built by Swedish doc- t o r A x e l M u n t h e i n t h e l a s t decades of the 19th century: the house, located 300 meters high on the hill, offers some of the most beautiful panoramic views on the island. Portoferraio (Isola d'Elba) Let us travel up north to the shores of quaint and beloved Tuscany, to discover yet another amazing spot, the Isola d'Elba and its main urban conglomera- tion, Portoferraio. Legend – and Egyptian poet Apollonius of Rhodes – says this is where the Argonauts seeking Circe landed and, a bit more his- torically, we know the area was an appreciated imperial Rome spot. Today, Portoferraio is known for the Torre del Martello, part of the Fortezza della Linguella, both beautiful landmarks of the town. Within the fortress, the Archaeological Museum, where both Roman and Etruscan find- i n g s a r e p r e s e r v e d . E v e n i f a n c i e n t a r t a n d c u l t u r e a r e important for Portoferraio, the village remains a Renaissance hub architecturally, as demon- strated also by another fortress, the Forte Stella, built in the 16th century and home to one of the oldest, still functioning light- houses in Europe. G e n e r a l e x t r a o r d i n a i r e Napoleon Bonaparte loved the quaintness of the borough so much to have his Winter home, Villa dei Mulini, built only a stone's throw from its center. Isola Bella (Lago Maggiore) Let us leave the seas of Italy and move on the shores of one o f h e r l a r g e s t l a k e s , L a g o Maggiore. Within it, you will find the tiny, yet breathtaking Isola Bella, one of the Borromee Islands. Its very name tells about its beauty, as it literally means just that: beautiful island. The Isola Bella lays in all tranquility about 400 meters off Stresa's c o a s t , a n d i t i s i n l a r g e p a r t occupied by Palazzo Borromeo and its gardens. Although the island is not strictly a "borgo", its uniqueness made it almost impossible for me to leave it out. Surrounded by the deep green waters of the lake, an emerald encased in the Alps' white gold crown, the island offers many an a m e n i t y t o c h e c k o u t , e v e n though Palazzo Borromeo's gar- dens are probably the place to be: landscaped on tiered ter- races, visitors can enjoy some of the most beautiful views of the island from there. Built on seven small islands on the Marani Canal, Murano is one of the most densely populated areas of the Venetian Lagoon Where Capri is glitz and glamour, Anacapri is local old fashioned colors and tradition Portoferraio is known for the Torre del Martello, part of the Fortezza della Linguella The Isola Bella lays in all tranquillity about 400 meters off Stresa's coast The best "borghi" on Italy's most beautiful islands ALL AROUND ITALY TRAVEL TIPS DESTINATIONS ACTIVITIES

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