BULGARIA“Medieval Roots of Present Europeans”

Historical FiguresSimeon I of Bulgaria

Tsar Simeon the Great (lived c. 866 - May 27, 927, ruled 893 – May 27, 927)

After he received his education in Constantinople, Simeon was prepared to become the head of the Bulgarian Church, but the fall of his elder brother prompted him to the throne. To break away from Byzantine religious influence, he replaced the Greek religious ceremony with Slavonic. Under the supervision of Simeon and thanks to his great sponsorship Old Church Slavonic flourished. The literary life, concentrated around the cities of Preslav and Ohrid, in Macedonia, included both large-scale translation of Greek works and works written in Old Bulgarian. This was the Golden Age of the medieval Bulgarian culture with the establishment of the Cyrillic alphabet - based on the Greek alphabet, but supplemented with Glagolitic or newly created letters. In 893 the Byzantines decided to move the market for Bulgarian goods out of Constantinople to Thessaloniki. The war that followed ended in 896 with a great Bulgarian victory. The market was returned to Constantinople and the Byzantine Emperor had to pay annual tribute to Bulgaria. More importantly, with

Bulgaria during the reign of Tsar Simeon

the help from the Pechenegs Simeon successfully fended off a Magyar invasion which was coordinated with the Byzantines. Later, Simeon tried to replace Byzantium as the biggest power in the region, probably even building a new Bulgarian-Byzantine empire. In 913 he invaded Thrace and stationed his army at the gates of Constantinople. Simeon assumed the style of "Emperor of the Bulgars and the Romans". In 917 an extraordinarily large Byzantine force invaded Bulgaria, but suffered a heavy defeat at the Battle of Anchialus. As a result Simeon drew into his orbit the Pecheneg leaders and started a major offensive against the European dominions of Byzantium. Simeon maintained extensive diplomatic correspondence with the Byzantine Emperor Romanus I and the Patriarch Nicholas Mysticus, but his ambition to be recognized as Emperor by the Byzantines remained unfulfilled. By 926 he fought with Croatia under King Tomislav,but suffered a major defeat in the Battle of the Bosnian Highlands. Simeon died of a heart attack on May 27, 927.

Bulgarian Legends:

The legend of Krali Marko(During the Ottoman Yoke)

On an early summer morning Krali Marko took his sabre and went to Solun to visit his friend. Krali Marko mounted his winged horse and left his home. He crossed the plain of Bitolia, where herds were fed and entered a deep oak forest, looked at the trees and saw that their leaves were yellow as if they were frozen. He had never seen such a thing before during the summer.

Krali Marko asked the forest: "Tell me, why are you sad? Was it a blaze that burned you or a frost fell on your leaves?" The forest never speaks but it told Marko: "I'll tell you, unknown hero! This morning conquerers passed by here - black nomads with crooked scimitars. They took three rows of chained slaves - your brothers and sisters. In the first row there were young brides with white kerchieves and red necklaces. The brides were walking sad and dispirited and were crying for their infant children, left without their mothers in the cradles. In the second row were chained red cheeked maidens, taken off their looms while weaving their wedding gifts. Their eyes were red

with crying. In the third row were chained the young men of your land. They stepped silent with fists clenched and muffled anguish. They were all barefooted on the dusty road and their misery burned the leaves of my trees. That's why i'm sad and faithful.”

Krali Marko forced his horse and yelled: "Go Sharkolia let's get them!” Soon he caught up with three rows of slaves. They were crying, half - death from heat and tired. The conquerers were beating the chained people with their whips. Krali Marko got angry and shouted: "Black nomads, people's torturers! Free the slaves! If you free them, I'll give a golden coin to each of you, and ten to your captain!" The nomads said: "Go away, stranger, because we have one chain more!" Krali Marko's blood flared up. He bent down, took a stone (a whole rock) and threw it over the nomads with such strenght that the road flew over the three rows.

Krali Marko pulled out his sabre, raised it up and slashed. The nomads took out their crooked scimitars, turned their horses to Marko and their white teeth shone. Krali Marko rushed over them and waged on the right. He sweeped them like the wind sweeps the verdure. Only the slaves were left alive. Krali Marko dismounted the Sharkolia and released the slaves. He gave a coin to each of them - to buy shoes from the Solun market. The released people kissed the right hand of their recuer went home. Marko said off his old friend Secula's home. Before he get there he went into the blacksmith at the best farrier and told him to make silver horseshoes and golden nails.

Proverbs and SayingsBulgaria's proverbs and sayings encapsulate the traditional wit and wisdom of its

people, and offer a wry commentary on the ways of the world.

It's not so easy to make a snake show you its legs.

Work like you're going to live for 100 years, but live like you'll die tomorrow.

You can wash a dirty bottom, but you can't wash a dirty tongue.

A sweet word opens iron gates.

You can't make nothing out of something, but you can make something out of nothing.

Shut your eyes because I'm going to lie to you.

A word is not a sparrow, but once you release it, you can't catch it.

Up until the age of 25, you can get married under your own steam.Over 25, your relatives try and find you a match

Over 30, the whole village tries to find you a matchOver 35, and even the devil can't find you a match.

It's not so important that I am well, but that my neighbour is worse off than me.

There is no hero without a wound.

Bulgarian symbols:

The rose - a kind of Bulgarian currency

The emergence of the perfume industry in France in the 17th century triggered off the rapid development of rose production, including the Bulgarian lands. Rose oil that was extracted, as in ancient times by the distillation of fresh rose petals, which were treated with water steam became a kind of Bulgarian currency. The rose is a symbol of perfect love.The Romans lavishly spent on rose fragrances; they adorned the feast tables with roses and Nero "invented" the rose rain. Christianity reinterpreted the symbol of fleeting pleasure as the symbol of perfect love and adorned the most virtuous maids with roses.

The Valley of RosesTo visit Bulgaria and not go to the Valley of Roses is to go

to Egypt and not see the pyramids. The Valley of Roses is in the very heart of the country and is shielded by the high slopes of two majestic mountain ranges - the Balkan and Sredna Gora. The rose, the queen of flowers, has been focusing the attention of people since the remote past as a symbol of beauty and youth. It was the Phoenicians who organized first the feast of the blessed flower. Cleopatra chose the rose for her palaces; her bathroom and numerous cosmetic substances all had a rose smell. The ancient Greeks decorated their temples with roses. Homer described rose oil in the "Iliad" and in the "Odyssey".

Bulgarian musical instruments:

Traditional Bulgarian musical instruments can be divided into three large groups: single and two voice wind instruments (pipe, shepherd's pipe or wooden flute /kaval/, bagpipe) string instruments (rebec, pandore), and percussion instruments (drum). Instrumental

folk music rests on vocal performance and conforms to the respective instrument.

The Bulgarian bagpipe

The Bulgarian drums

The Bulgarian wooden flute (kaval)

The Bulgarian pandore (Tambura)

Bulgarian Customs and Celebrations:

Nestinarstvo - fire dancing There are now only a few genuine Nestinari/Nestinarki (male/female fire dancers) left in the Strandja area of Bulgaria. They enter into a spiritual trance to dance barefoot on burning embers during the festival of St Konstantin and Elena in midsummer, in a relic of an ancient Thracian solar ritual.

Trifon Zarezan is the patron saint of vineyards. On 1st February (old Julian calendar, or 14th February in the new calendar), there is a ceremonial pruning of the vine shoots, and a wine libation is poured onto the earth. The custom is associated with a Bulgarian legend which tells how the Virgin Mary punishes Trifon by causing him to cut off his nose (a euphemism for the phallus) with his pruning shears. The custom and legend reflect elements of the Thracian cult of Dionysus, the dying and reborn god of wine.

Koukeri are masked male dancers and mummers, who wear fantastic, often animal like masks (like the one pictured above), and huge bronze cowbells round their waists (like those pictured below). They carry sticks, which symbolise the phallus, in a spring fertility rite derived from the ancient Dionysian new year festival. (Ritual adapted for Beyond Nine

Forests)

Koukeri

Places of Interest:

The Madara Horseman

The Shrine of the Nymphs(See also the section on the Madara Horseman below)

At the foot of the Madara Plateau to the right of the famed Madara Horseman, a path winds up to a large cave. This is the Cave or Shrine of the Nymphs. It's like a huge natural theatre beneath a giant overhang of rock, and the ancient Thracians worshipped their gods here.

It's an atmospheric place. The rock wall is draped with greenery and little rivulets of water continually trickle down the surface, for the source of the River Madara is very close by.

Archaeologists date the shrine to the 3rd - 4th centuries BC. Votive tablets and inscriptions suggest that the shrine was dedicated to the three nymphs of the water, the forest and nature, and to Dionysus, Heracles and Artemis. Tablets with representations of the Thracian Horseman have also been found.

Bulgarian Recipes: Banitsa

Banitsa is one of the most popular and typical Bulgarian dishes, more of a breakfast or snack thing than a main course. There are many shapes and varieties of banitsa - with cheese, spinach or butternut squash, but the cheese one is the most common and famous one.Ingredients:10-12 sheets of layers of pastry (it is difficult to roll the sheets in the correct thickness, so I suggest you buy the ready made ones from your supermarket)500 gr white cheese 1/2 pack butter (melted)3-4 eggs 250 ml soda waterpinch of saltInstructions:Oil a medium size deep oven dish, cover bottom with a sheet of pastry, sprinkle melted butter, sprinkle crumbled white cheese, and continue layering pastry with butter and cheese. Finish with a layer of pastry and butter. In a separate dish beat the eggs, add salt, and soda water. Pour slowly over the dish with the banitsa and let it soak in. Cook in a preheated oven (180-200 C) for about 40 minutes or until the banitsa has risen slightly and has nicely browned on top. Leave to cool for about 30 minutes and serve. I like it with yoghurt on the side.If you wish you can add sauteed spinach when layering the banitsa.

Shopska Salad - a Bulgarian favourite (Bulgarian Recipes)

Ingredients for 4:

4 spring onions, 4 medium size tomatoes, half a cucumber, 1 green pepper, 1 red pepper, optional: olives, chopped parsley, grated feta cheese to sprinkle salad, salt, pepper, vinegar and olive oil.

How to prepare: Cut all ingredients in slices or cubes. Season with salt, pepper, add the chopped parsley, 1 tbs. of vinegar and 2 tbs. of olive oil and mix well. Sprinkle with feta cheese and enjoy either on its own or as a side dish.

Български легенди

Легендата за Крали Марко(По време на турското робство)

Една ранна лятна сутрин Крали Марко взел сабята си и потеглил към Солун за да посети свой приятел. Той яхнал крилатия си кон и тръгнал на път. Докато минавал през Битоля той прекосил гъста букова гора. Листата на дърветата били пожълтели, като че ли били попарени. Той никога не бил виждал такова нещо през лятото.

Крали Марко попитал гората: „Кажи ми, горо, защо си толкова тъжна? Огън ли изгори листата ти или слана ги попари?”. Гората никога не говорела, но сега промълвила: „Ще ти кажа непознати момко! Тази сутрин еничари минаха от тук - черни еничари с извити ятагани. Те водеха три синджира роби - твои братя и сестри. С първия синджир бяха оковани млади невести с бели кърпи и червени гердани. Те вървяха нещастни и тъжни и плачеха за невръстните си дечица, оставени сами в люлките си. С втория синджир бяха оковани млади моми, отведени докато тъкали сватбените

си чеизи. Те бяха с зачервени от плач очи. С третия синджир бяха оковани млади момци. Те вървяха безмълвни и стискаха юмруци за да не показват болката си. Всички бяха боси и тяхното нещастие изгори листата на дърветата ми. Ето защо съм тъжна.”

Крали Марко яхнал коня си и извикал: „Дий Конъо, да отидем да ги намерим!”. Скоро видял трите синджира роби. Те плачели и едвам вървели изтощени от жега и умора. Еничарите ги удряли с камшик. Крали Марко се ядосал и извикал: „Черни еничари и насилници, Освободете робите! Ако ги пуснете, ще дам на всеки от вас по една жълтица и десет на вашия водач.” Еничарите му отрърнали: „Върви си по пътя страннико, че имаме окови и за тебе!” Кръвта на Крали Марко кипнала. Той се навел и вдигнал огромна скала. Хвърлил я с такава сила върху тях, че пътят се разцепил на три части.

После той извадил сабята си, вдиг-нал я и започнал да сече еничарите. Те пък извадили ятагани-те си и се опитали да отвърнат на удара му, но без успех. Като вятър Крали Марко помел всички еничари. Само робите останаки живи. Уморен, той разсед-лал коня си и освободил робите. Дал им по жълтица да си купят обувки от пазара в Солун. Те му целунали ръка и той потеглил за дома на приятеля си. Преди да пристигне Марко се отбил при най добрия ковач и му казал да направи сребърни подкови за коня му.

Katowice

Silesia, Poland

Upper Silesia Coat of Arms

Name of the region

One theory claims that the name Silesia is derived from the Silingi, which most likely were a Vandalic people, who supposedly lived south of the Baltic Sea along the Elbe, Oder, and Vistula rivers in the 2nd century. When the Silingi moved from the area during the Migration Period, they left remnants of their society behind.

History

Early people

Silesia was inhabited by various people that belonged to changing archeological cultures in the Stone, Bronze, and Iron Ages.

According to Tacitus, in the 1st century Silesia was inhabited by a multi-ethnic league dominated by the Lugii/Lygii. The Silingi were also part of this federation, and most likely a Vandalic people that

lived south of the Baltic Sea in the Elbe, Oder, and Vistula river area.

Middle ages

Early documents mention a couple of mostly Slavic tribes most probably living in Silesia. The Bavarian Geographer (ca. 845) specifies the following peoples: the Slenzanie, Dzhadoshanie, Opolanie, Lupiglaa, and Golenshitse.

In the 9th and 10th centuries, the territory later called Silesia was subject to Moravian, and then Bohemian rulers of the neighbouring area within today's Czech Republic to the south. About 990, Silesia was incorporated into Poland by Mieszko I (although some historians give this date as 999 and the rule of Boleslaus I, duke of the Polanie and later king of Poland). During Poland's fragmentation (1138–1320) into duchies ruled by different branches of the Piast dynasty, Silesia was ruled by descendants of the former royal family.

In 1146,senior duke Wladislaus II the Exile acknowledged the overlordship of the Holy Roman Empire over Poland, but was driven into exile. In 1163, his two sons took possession of Silesia with imperial backing, dividing the land as dukes of Lower and Upper Silesia.

In 1241, the region experienced the Mongol invasion of Europe. After raiding Lesser Poland, the Mongols invaded Silesia and caused widespread panic and mass flight. They looted much of the region, but abandoned their siege of the castle of Wrocław, supposedly after being fended off by Blessed Cheslav's "miraculous fireball." They then annihilated the combined Polish and German forces at the Battle of Legnica. Upon the death of Ögedei Khan, the Mongols chose not to press forward further into Europe, but returned east to participate in the election of a new Grand Khan.

The ruling Silesian lords decided to rebuild their cities according to the latest administrative ideas. They founded or rebuilt some 160 cities and 1,500 towns and introduced the codified German city law (Magdeburg law) in place of the older, customary Polish laws. They also made up for the recent population loss by inviting new settlers, mostly Germans from the Holy Roman Empire. Since about the end of the 13th century or beginning of the 14th, Silesian dukes invited many German settlers to improve their dukedoms. Germans settled mostly in cities, as did Jews and some Czechs. In the countryside, and especially in Upper Silesia, people with Polish origins dominated. With this, and with the ruling classes adopting German culture, the foundation for the ethnic tensions found later in Silesia were laid.

In the second half of the 13th century, various knightly orders settled in Silesiathe Knights of the Red Star were the first, soon followed by the Hospitaller and the Teutonic Knights.

Many Piast dukes tried to reunite Silesia with Poland and even reunite Poland itself during the time of divisions. The first significant attempts were made by the Silesian duke Henryk IV Probus, but he died in 1290 before realizing his goal. In 1335, Duke Henry VI of Wrocław and the Upper Silesian dukes recognized the overlordship of the king of Bohemia, John of Luxemburg. Finally in 1348 Polish king Kazimierz was forced to accept Czech dominance over most of Silesia.

From that time Silesia became part of the Holy Roman Empire, as Bohemia was itself an autonomous part of it. Silesia remained part of the lands of the Bohemian crown until 1740, under kings from Czech, Polish and German dynasties. Under Emperor (and king of Bohemia) Charles IV, Silesia and especially Wrocław gained greatly in importance — many great buildings and large Gothic churches were built.

Between 1425 and 1435, devastation was caused by the Hussite Wars in Bohemia. The Hussites turned against the German population, and some regions, especially Upper Silesia, became Slavic-speaking again. Despite the widespread nature of the conflagration, Silesia remained largely Catholic, excluding Cieszyn Silesia where continously Lutheranism became dominant.

SkarbnikDawno temu w kopalniach srebra i miedzi przebywał duch Szarlej. Był

to bardzo niedobry duch, czyhający na życie górników. Utrudniał im je jak tylko mógł – zasypywał chodniki bądź strącał przodki. Pewnego dnia zalał kopalnie. Po tym zdarzeniu bardzo długo w kopalniach nie gościł żaden duch. Aż do czasu, kiedy ludzie zaczęli wydobywać węgiel. Wtedy to pojawił się Skarbnik – duch zamieszkujący podziemia, strzegący skarbów znajdujących się w ziemi w postaci cennych minerałów i kruszców

Skarbnik pod względem wyglądu był bardzo podobny do swego poprzednika – był kulawy ( lewą stopę miał zamienioną w końskie kopytu), miał bardzo odstające uszy. Z nosa i z ust buchał siarką bądź ognistymi płomieniami. Skarbnik ukazywał się także pod postacią starca z długą siwą brodą albo górnika o brudnej twarzy i ubranego w roboczą odzież lub w górniczy mundur, niosącego w ręku migoczącą lampkę, chodzącym wszędzie z kilofem na grzbiecie Czasami przybierał postacie zwierząt (myszy, czarnego psa albo kota).

Skarbnik był duchem zazwyczaj przychylnym ludziom i bardzo prawym. Pomagał górnikom na różne sposoby, np. podnosił ciężkie sprzęty. W swoich działaniach był bezinteresowny. Wymagał od górników jedynie szacunku. Nie cierpiał gwizdania „na dole” , gwiżdżących karał ostro – uderzeniem w twarz. Był bezlitosny dla skąpców i pazernych cwaniaków.

TreasurerA long time ago in silver and copper mines lived a ghost named Sharley. It was a very evil ghost because it used to kill the mine workers. It also disturbed their work by damaging the corridols or doing other things. One the Sharley flooded the mine. After this event no ghosts appeared in mines by the time people started to use them again. And then the Treasurer appeared. Tresurer is a spirit of the underground which looks after the treasures like minerals and guards them.

The Treasurer looks simmilar to Sharley- he is lame (his left leg turned into a hoof) and has large ears. He blazes and belches with sulphur. The Treasurer may also appear as an old man with white beard or a miner with black face, dressed in old clothes, holding a lamp and pick in his hands. Sometimes this spirit took a shape of an animal like a black dog, cat or mice.

Treasurer is a very friendly and honest ghost. He helps the miners in different way for example holds heavy items. He is disinterested and selfless. All he wants from the mine workers is respect. He hates whistling underground. People who whistled were punished by a slap in the face. He is also merciless for the misers and people who are keen on money.

Utopiec

Utopiec to demon wodny utożsamiany mylnie z Wodnikiem, powstający z duszy i ciał topielców. Jego siedzibą są jeziora, stawy rzeki i mokradła.

Utopiec zwykle zachowywał postać, jaką miał w momencie śmierci, ale można było go łatwo poznać po nienaturalnie dużej lub małej głowie, dużym wzroście, cienkich, wręcz pajęczych, nogach, takoż zielonych włosach, czasem ogromnym nosie i zaroście. Niekiedy utopiec był dodatkowo napuchnięty jak bania. Zawsze odznacza się natomiast wilgotnym ubranie (zwykle palto), z którego sączą się strumyki wody. Utopiec mógł również wyjść z wody i żyć na lądzie, np. chodzić na jarmark.

Utopiec zawsze starał się utrudnić ludziom życie. Zajmuje się głównie topieniem nieostrożnych pływaków. Bardzo nie lubił, gdy ktoś przeszkadzał mu w tym zajęciu, więc często zdarzało się, że topi nie tylko tego, kogo chciał, ale i tego, kto ruszał tonącemu z pomocą. Mimo wszystko Utopiec w rozmowie był dość uprzejmy. Zasadniczo przed utopcem nie było skutecznej obrony, więc najlepiej było nie wchodzić mu w drogę. Mimo wszystko ludzie często próbowali rzucać w niego różańcami, bądź innymi religijnymi przedmiotami.

MerrowMerrow is a water demon, often confused with a marmaid, merperson

or siren. This demon is created from the body and soul of a drown person. It lives in lakes, rivers and swamps.

A merrow usually had the apperience simmilar to the one he had before death, but it can be recognised by unusually big or small head, tall body and very thin legs. It also has green hair , enormous nose and a beard. Sometimes it may be swelled and allways wears really wet clothes. A merrow can also live the water and go somewere.

This creature is really unpleasant and is always trying to disturb people’s lives. It,s main aim is to drow uncareful swimmers. It hates when someone interferes it, so it may drown not only the swimmer, but also somebody who is trying to rescue him. In spite of everything, a merrow is usually kind if you talk to it. In fact there is no way to defend against a merrow so the best thing to do is trying to avoid it. Sometimes people used to throw some holly items like rosaries or crosses in the demon but it didn.t affect it in any way.

Scientific High School “G.Tarantino”

LE TESTIMONIANZE DELLA STORIA

Nel variegato paesaggio della Puglia, un motivo ricorrente è creato da costruzioni fortificate interne e costiere, come castelli e torri di orologio. Destinate a volte a irreversibili deterioramenti, in cui l’erosione del tempo vi prende parte, ancora abilmente protette attraverso continui interventi di preservazione, queste costruzioni evocano un passato pieno di eventi, accaduti e personaggi che sembrano appartenere di più ad una storia inventata!L’intera regione, circondata da un mare navigato spesso da innocue civiltà ma anche da forti conquistatori, ha dovuto difendersi in ogni modo. Le testimonianze di questo bisogno naturale di protezione risale al periodo Romano, al Medioevo e alla dominazione Bizantina, e attraverso la permanenza dei Normanni, Svevi, Angioini e Aragonesi, esse raggiungono il loro apice durante il Vicereame Spagnolo.Quindi, da un momento all’altro, il nome degli strumenti di difesa è cambiato, passando da castra a Kastron; e anche se il modello originale dell’architettura ha sofferto necessarie revisioni, non ha mai smesso di svolgere le sue maggiori attività.Dopo il 1480, una data legata al sacco di Otranto a opera dei Turchi, tale funzione acquistò molta più importanza.Inoltre: orbitando per due secoli all’interno del regno Spagnolo (dal 1519 al 1700), la Puglia ricoprì tale ruolo strategico nell’area del Mediterraneo e l’imperatore Carlo V sentì il bisogno di adattare i più importanti castelli e torri di orologio alle nuove tecniche balistiche.

Il succedersi della storia e l’evoluzione di tali strutture architettoniche sono equivalenti a ricostruire il profilo storico e sociale dei centri urbani e delle loro comunità.Un famoso personaggio Asburgico non sapeva che, attraverso supporti il progetto di crearepotenti torri costiere che tenessero sotto controllo questo vasto mare con ogni cambiamento di riflesso turchese, lui avrebbe valorizzato gli elementi che caratterizzano il paesaggio pugliese.La sequenza fotografica che si riferisce a queste uniche strutture di sicurezza, e in particolare a quelle nelle città di Barletta, Otranto, Nardò, Copertino, è una testimonianza irrefutabile.

Gravina in Puglia (BA) – Italy

THE WITNESSES OF HISTORYIn the various landscape of Apulia, a recurring feature is created by internal and coastline fortified constructions, such as castles and watchtowers.Sometimes destined to irreversible decay because of the erosion of time, but skilfully protected through continuous preservation interventions, these buildings evoke a past rich of events, happenings and characters that seem to belong more to fiction than to history!The whole region, surrounded by the sea’, in the past was often sailed not only by harmless people but also by predators and conquerors so it needed to be defended.Since the Roman Period, the Middle Ages, and through the dominations of the Byzantine, the

Normans, the Swabians, the Angevins, the Aragonese and the Spanish, local people tried to protect the area.As time went by, the name on the defensive buildings changed, turning from castra to Kastron; and even if the original architectural design changed too, it always carried out its main function.After 1480, when there was the Turks’ depredation of Otranto, such a function gained even more importance.Moreover: for two centuries, as a territory of the Spanish Reign (from 1519 to 1700), Apulia played such a strategic role in the Mediterranean area that the emperor Charles V intuited the need to adapt the most important castles and watchtowers to the new ballistic techniques.Through the history and evolution of such architectonic signs you can rebuild the historical and social features of the urban areas and of their communities.A famous Hapsburg personage did not know that building powerful coast-towers, overlooking the vast sea whose water has different nuances of turquoise reflections, would have valued the characterizing elements of the Apulian landscape.The following pictures of architectural defensive buildings in the towns of Barletta, Otranto, Nardò, Copertino, offer convincing evidence of the link between the natural landscape and these buildings.

BRUNO GIORDANOBruno, Giordano (Nola, Napoli 1548 - Roma 1600), filosofo italiano. Formatosi negli ambienti averroisti

napoletani, a diciotto anni entrò nell'ordine dei domenicani, mutando il nome originario Filippo in Giordano. Nel convento di San Domenico, dove fu ordinato sacerdote nel 1572, approfondì lo studio della filosofia aristotelica, di Tommaso d'Acquino e dei neoplatonici. Lasciò l'ordine nel 1576 perché sospettato di eresia e cominciò il vagabondaggio che avrebbe caratterizzato la sua vita. Da Napoli, Bruno si recò a Ginevra, a Tolosa e quindi a Parigi, dove si dedicò allo studio della mnemotecnica basata sull’ars combinatoria di Raimondo Lullo, e dove compose il trattato De umbris idearum (1582), dedicato al re Enrico III; fu poi a Oxford, col cui ambiente accademico ebbe dissidi, e a Londra, dove trascorse due anni, dal 1583 al 1585. Fu, questo, un periodo molto fecondo, in cui egli scrisse diverse opere importanti; tra queste: La cena de le ceneri (1584), opera in cui confutava i principi della fisica aristotelica e il sistema tolemaico, difendendo il sistema copernicano; De l'infinito universo et mondi (1584), nel quale esponeva la tesi dell'infinità dell'universo e dell'infinità numerica dei mondi; e il dialogo De la causa, principio et uno (1584) in cui affrontò la questione dell'origine del cosmo, facendola risalire a un unico principio che anima ogni essere. In un altro dialogo, Degli eroici furori (1585), Bruno celebrò una sorta di amore platonico che unisce l'anima a Dio mediante la ragione.Tornato a Parigi nel 1585, si spostò in seguito a Wittemberg e a Francoforte, dove scrisse e pubblicò alcuni scritti, tra cui poemi in latino di argomento

cosmologico. Su invito del nobile veneziano Giovanni Mocenigo, Bruno rientrò in Italia, allettato dalla possibilità di ottenere una cattedra di mnemotecnica presso l'ateneo di Padova. Nel 1591 Mocenigo, turbato dalle idee eterodosse del filosofo, lo denunciò all'Inquisizione, che lo processò per eresia: Bruno venne consegnato alle autorità romane e rimase in prigione per circa otto anni mentre veniva discusso il procedimento a suo carico per eresia, condotta immorale e bestemmia. Rifiutatosi di ritrattare la proprie teorie, il filosofo fu arso vivo in Campo de’ Fiori il 17 febbraio del 1600.

Alla fine del XIX secolo nel luogo del suo martirio fu eretta una statua dedicata alla libertà di pensiero.Genio multiforme e figura complessa di filosofo e "mago" rinascimentale, Bruno sostenne teorie filosofiche che rmonizzavano il neoplatonismo mistico e il panteismo, nella convinzione che l'universo, in tutte le sue forme, fosse la manifestazione di un unico principio vivificatore.

BRUNO GIORDANO

Giordano Bruno (Nola, Naples 1548 – Rome 1600), Italian philosopher. He was educated in Naples, at the age of eighteen he became a monk, changing his original name from Filippo to Giordano. In the monastery of S.Domenico, where he became priest in the 1576, he studied the Aristotelian philosophy. He left the religious order in 1576 because he

was suspected of heresy and he started wandering all his life.Bruno moved from Naples to Ginevra, to Tolosa and to Paris, where he started to study mnemonic-technique and where he wrote the treaty “De Umbris Idearum” (1582), dedicated to king Enrico III; after that he moved to Oxford, where he fell out with the academic world, and to London, where he spent two years, from 1583 to 1585. This period was fecund, he wrote different important works: “La cena dell ceneri” (1584), “De l’infinito universo et mondi” (1584), “Della causa, principio et uno” (1584), “Degli eroici furori” (1585). He came back to Paris in 1585, then he moved to Wittemberg and to Frankfurt, where he wrote and he published some works. Bruno came back to Italy because he wanted to teach mnemonic-technique at Padova university.In 1591 Giovanni Mocenigo, afraid of heterodox ideas of the philosopher, denounced him to the inquisition, that tried him for heresy: Bruno was brought to the Roman authorities and he spent eight years in prison. He refused to change his ideas, so the philosopher was burned in Campo dei Fiori in the 17th February 1600. At the end of XIX century a statue of Giordano Bruno was erected, it was dedicated to freedom of thought.

LEGGENDE

LA STORIA DI BIANCA LANCIA

Bianca Lancia, della famiglia dei conti di Loreto,fu l’unica donna che riuscì a conquistare veramente il difficile cuore di Federico II di Svevia. I due si conobbero nel 1225, pochi mesi dopo lo sfortunato matrimonio con Jolanda di Brienne: fu un reciproco colpo di fulmine.Non potendo convolare a giuste nozze, i due mantennero una relazione clandestina ma tutt’altro

che segreta, tanto che da essa naquero due figli, forse tre: Costanza, Manfredi e Violante.

LA LEGGENDA DI BIANCA LANCIA

Secondo una leggenda che ci è stata tramandata da Padre Bonaventura da Lana, durante la gravidanza di Manfredi, Federico tenne rinchiusa l’amante, Bianca Lancia, in una torre del castello di Gioia del Colle.Si pensa che sia stata la gelosia a fargli prendere questa decisione. Resta il fatto che la sensibile principessa non potè resistere all’umiliazione; vinta dal dolore, si tagliò i seni e li inviò all’imperatore su di un vassoio assieme al neonato. Dopo di che, morì.Da quel giorno, ogni notte, nella torre del castello detta ora Torre dell’Imperatrice si ode un flebile,straziante lamento: il lamento di una donna offesa che protesta all’infinito la propria innocenza.

LEGENDSBIANCA LANCIA’S STORY

Bianca Lancia, a member of Loreto lords’s family, was the only woman that was able to conquer the hard heart of Federich II of

Swabia. They met in 1225, few months later the unfortunate marriage with Jolanda of Brienna: it was a strong eciprocal love.Because they couldn’t get married, they maintained a secret relationship, but they also had two children, maybe three: Costanza, Manfredi and Violante.

BIANCA LANCIA’S LEGEND

According to a legend that was transmitted by Father Bonaventura of Lana, while she was pregnant of Manfredi, Frederic closed his lover, Bianca Lancia, in a tower of Gioia del Colle’s castle. It is thought that this decision was taken because of his jealousy. However, the sensitive princess couldn’t bear this humiliation: so, she cut her own breast and sent it on a tray to the emperor. After that she died. Since then, every night, in the tower of the castle called The Empress’s Tower, it is heard a feeble, heartrending lament: the lament of an offended woman that claimed her own innocence.

PROVERBIAmore Amòure e gèlousì vonne

sembe ‘ngumbagnì. Belle o brutte, la

megghière de l’alte pisce a tutte.

PROVERBSLove

Love and jealousy always go together.

Everybody likes the wife of the others, either she is beautiful or ugly.

Penela – Portugal

Receitas / RecipesCALDO VERDE

Ingredientes: ½ kg de batatas 20 folhas de couves 3 colheres de sopa de azeite 1 chouriço sal 1 cebola 2 dentes de alho água

Preparação:Cozem-se as batatas, a cebola e o

alho. Depois de cozidas, as batatas são trituradas na panela. Juntam-se as couves cortadas às tiras muito finas, o azeite, o chouriço cortado às rodelas e o sal. Deixa-se cozer cerca de 20 a 30 minutos.

CHANFANA

Ingredientes: 3 kg de carne de cabra 2 l de vinho tinto sal 1 ou 2 folhas de louro 1 ou 2 cabeças de alho

inteiras colorau azeite

Preparação:Corta-se a carne aos bocados

grandes e colocam-se numa caçoila de barro. Tempera-se com sal, alho, colorau e

louro. Cobre-se bem com vinho tinto. Vai ao lume durante 3 a 4 horas, cozendo lentamente.

Serve-se, geralmente, com batatas cozidas e grelos de nabo.

CABBAGE SOUP

Ingredients: ½ kg potatoes 20 cabbage leaves 3 tablespoons olive oil 1 Portuguese sausage /

Salami type sausage salt 1 onion 2 cloves of garlic water

How to prepare:Boil the potatoes, the onion and the

garlic. After being cooked, the potatoes are mashed in the saucepan. Add the cabbage leaves cut in very thin strips, the olive oil, the sliced sausage and the salt. Let them cook for 20 or 30 minutes.

GOAT MEAT

Ingredients: 3 kg goat meat 2 l red wine salt 1 ou 2 bayleaves 1 ou 2 whole garlics paprika olive oil

How to prepare:Chop the meat in big pieces and put

it in a clay saucepan. Season with salt, garlic, paprika and bayleaf. Cover well

with red wine. Put it in the oven for 3 or 4 hours and let it cook slowly.

Serve usually with boiled potatoes and turnip leaves.

Monumentos / MonumentsVILLA ROMANA DO RABAÇAL

É "uma história que se vai deixando ler desde 1984...”

Começemos pela Residência Senhorial:A pars urbana desenvolve-se à volta de um

peristilo central octogonal, de 24 colunas, em mármore de Estremoz.

É a partir deste centro que irradia toda a construção. As linhas deixaram-se adivinhar ao longo de sucessivas escavações, mas sem sombra de dúvida que a descoberta mais

marcante terá sido o pavimento de mosaico polícromo onde fiadas de tesselas negras delimitam golfinhos, folhas de hera ... é o que sucede no corredor sul do peristilo cujas paredes interiores teriam sido revestidas a mármore.

A pars urbana do Rabaçal é assim uma villa luxuosa, com um programa construtivo e iconográfico que encontra modelos paralelos nas villas tardo-romanas de todo o Império.

O Senhor do Rabaçal era assim um proprietário abastado.

CASTELO DE PENELA

Fazia parte do núcleo de Castelos que compunham o sistema defensivo da linha do Mondego, aquando da época da Reconquista. Dele existe notícia desde o domínio Sarraceno, pese embora o que tenha chegado até nós seja resultado de alterações sofridas ao longo dos séculos, nomeadamente no centúria de trezentos e quatrocentos.

As Muralhas exteriores são do séc. XIV, e o Castelejo e Porta da Vila datam do séc. XV. A porta da Traição possui dupla abertura e é testemunha do gosto Mourisco, na arte da fortificação dos finais da Idade Média.

ROMAN VILLA OF RABAÇAL

It is " a story that is being read since 1984...”Let's begin with the Manor House.

The pars urbana has been developed around a central octogonal peristyle, with 24 columns in marble of Estremoz.It's in this centre that all the construction begin. The lines have been guessed thanks to the many excavations, but it is sure that the most important discovery has been the pavement of polychromatic mosaics where rows of little dark stones give shape to dolphins, ivy leafs...that's what happens in the south corridor of the peristyle , whose interior walls must have been covered with marble.

So, the pars urbana is a luxuous villa, with a constructive and iconographic programme whose model is similar to those of the late roman villas of the whole empire.

The owner of Rabaçal was a wealthy landlord.

PENELA CASTLE

It was part of the nucleus of castles that formed the defensive system of the Mondego line, during

the period of the reconquest. In spite of the changes it has suffered till today, specially in the 14th and 15th centuries, its existence is known since the Saracen domination.

The exterior walls date back to the 14th century, and the highest part of the castle as well as

the Door of the City date back to the 15th century. The Treason Door has a double entrance and it's the testimony of the moorish taste concerning the fortification art in the end of the Middle Age.

Lenda / LegendOS FERREIROS DE PENELA

Muito perto de Penela existem dois montes elevados, em forma de cone, que a lenda diz terem sido habitados por dois irmãos ferreiros, Melo e Jerumelo. Estando cada um em seu monte com a sua respectiva forja, possuíam apenas um martelo do qual se serviam alternadamente. A distância entre o topo dos dois montes era curta, assim de dois quilómetros mais ou menos, e os dois irmãos atiravam o martelo um ao outro quando dele precisavam. Decerto que já perceberam que estes irmãos eram gigantes porque de outro modo não teriam força para atirar o martelo.

Um dia, Jerumelo zangou-se com o irmão e atirou-lhe o malho com tanta força que este se desconjuntou, caindo o ferro na encosta do monte Melo com tanta força que lhe fez brotar uma fonte de água férrea. O cabo de madeira de zambujo foi espetar-se na terra a dois quilómetros de distância, fazendo nascer um zambujo, que veio dar o nome à povoação de Zambujal. A prova de que esta história tem um fundo verdadeiro está nas ruínas da forja do irmão Melo, que ainda hoje se encontram no cimo do monte com o mesmo nome.

PENELA’S BLACKSMITHS

Near Penela there are two big hills, with conical shape, which the legends say were inhabited by the brothers who were blacksmiths, Melo and Jerumelo. Each one was in his hill with his respective forge, they owned only one hammer which they used alternately. The distance between the top of both hills was short, more or less two kilometres, and both brothers used to throw each other the hammer when they needed it. Certainly by now you have already realised that these brothers were giants because, otherwise they were not strong enough to throw the hammer.

One day, Jerumelo got angry with his brother and threw him the mallet so hard that it broke up, and the iron fell on the slope of Melo hill so hard that a spring of iron water came

up. The wooden handle made of wild olive wood was stuck on the ground two kilometres away, and a wild olive tree was born, which was the origin of the name of this village – Zambujal (wild wood). The proof that this story has got a true background are the ruins of the forge of brother Melo, which are still today at the top of the hill with the same name.