martedì 19 maggio 2009

Cologne: the Roman North Gate

COLOGNE
The Roman north gate, whose right side entrance can be seen at the Cologne Cathedral today, is a fragment of the Roman city wall of Cologne. The north gate in those times had three passages, the one in the middle was 8,60 m high and the two side entrances were 6,30 m high. Some rests of the city wall can be seen in the public car park underneath the cathedral.

Die heute noch sichtbaren Reste des römischen Nordtores auf der Domplatte waren ursprünglich Teil der römischen Stadtmauer, die sich damals an diesem Platz befunden hat.
Das Nordtor hatte damals drei Durchgänge, einen mittleren von 5,60 m Breite und 8,60 m Höhe, und zwei Seiteneingänge von 1,90 Breite.
1971 stellte man den östlichen Torburgenauf der nordwestlichen Domplatte auf, wo er heute zu besichtigen ist. Andere Reste der Stadtmauer finden sich, frei zugänglich, in der Tiefgarage unter dem Dom.Der Torbogen gehörte zum römischen Nordtor und war dort der rechte Seitendurchgang. Das Nordtor ist direkt am Tourismus Office zu finden. Der Mittelbogen mit Initialen Kölns als römische Colonia (CCAA) ist im Römisch Germanischen Museum ausgestellt. Zwischen "Köln Tourismus Office" und dem Kölner Dom.


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Burg Nideggen & Castello di Arechi

Burg Nideggen
- Erbaut im Jahre 1177-1190 von Graf Wilhelm II
- Mehrmals zerstoert und beschaedigt durch Kriege und Kaempfe
- Immer wieder Veraenderungen des Baus
- Im Zentrum der Stadt
- Bietet eine schoene Aussicht


















Nideggen Castle:
- was built from 1177to 1190 by Wilhelm II.
- was often destroyed by wars and fights.
- there were always changes with the building.
- is in the centre of the city.
- from the castle you have a wonderful view.



Castello di Arechi
- Erbaut im 7 Jahr vom Longobarden arechi II
- Sie wurde nicht beschadigt nur belagert
- Mehrmals modifiziert in den Jahrhunderten
- Bei der Stadt
- Bietet eine schoene Aussicht



Castello di Arechi:
- was built in the seventh century by Arechi II.
- was not destroyed but it has been beleaguered.
- is above the old city.
- from the castle you have a wonderful view.

The Garden of Minerva & Der Kräutergarten von Karl des Grossen

The Garden of Minerva
The Garden of Minerva is located in the heart of the old town, in a zone known as the “Plaium montis” in the Middle Ages. It is halfway along an ideal route that runs along the axis of the walled and terraced vegetables gardens, climbing from the Municipal Park,near the River Fusandola, towards the Arechi Castle. Later on, Matteo Silvatico created a garden of simples here, a forerunner of all future botanical gardens in Europe. Silvatico’s great work, entitled Opus "pandectarum medicinae", provides us with the first description of the garden: ”…and I have a taro, in Salerno, in my garden, near a well known spring.” Matteo Silvatico made a name for himself as a distinguished doctor of the School of Salerno with a great knowledge of plants used in the production of medicines. Matteo became very well know. So much so in fact that the King of Naples, Robert of Anjou, wanted him as one of his personal doctors, granting him the title of miles as a mark of his gratitude and generosity. Silvatico’s main work was the Opus Pandectarum Medicinae, a lexicon on simples, mostly of plant origin. The Pandects are comprised of 721 chapters dealing with plants, minerals, animals and simples which we were unable to define. The chapters of the Pandects open with the name of the simple, then followed by the list of synonyms (Latin, Arabic and Greek), the morphological description taken from illustrious authors or from personal experience, and the complexion (that is to say the ”nature” of the simple), closing with a list of their therapeutic properties. In Salerno mediaeval therapies and, consequently the study of medical botany, were essentially based on the “doctrine of the four humours”. In its turn, this doctrine was based on the ancient “theory of elements”. The concept of "harmony" that supports and governs the composition of matter is not static, but exists in a continuos unstable balance. It is the result of a balanced antagonism of opposite forces inherent to things. The harmony that supports the universe also supports man, giving him his health. When this balance is upset it causes illness. The Pythagoreans saw life as being comprised of four elements: earth, air, fire and water, which correspond to four qualities: dry, cold, hot and moist. The humours (blood, black bile, yellow bile and phlegm) correspond to the four elements (air, earth, fire and water) and possess the same characteristics. The humours and, thus, the elements have a direct relationship with the so-called "primary qualities" they possess: hot, cold, moist and dry.
Der Garten der Minerva
Der garten der Minerva war der erste botanische Garten in Europa, in dem Pflanzen fuer therapeutische Zwecke gepflanzt wurden. Er liegt im Herzen der Stadt in der naehe des Fusandola Fluss und der alten Mauern. Manche Teile des Gartens wurden schon vor 1300 Jahren errichtet. Es gibt eine Fontaene auf der Terasse und eine Treppe, die zu einer schoenen aussicht fuehrt. Der Garten gehoert Mathew Silvatico,einem Doktor der Medizin, und er war ein Platz fuer die Studenten der Schule fuer Medizin.

Der Kräutergarten von Karl des Grossen
“Capitulare de villis”
Bei Gut Melaten ist ein Garten nach dem "Capitulare de villis vel curtis imperialibus" Karls des Großen entstanden. Im 70. Kapitel des Kapitulare ist eine umfangreiche Liste von Pflanzen niedergeschrieben, die in ihrer Bedeutung einer mittelalterlichen Apotheke gleichkamen. Im Karlsgarten in Melaten sind Kräuter und Stauden vollständig aufgereiht wie sie im Kapitulare verzeichnet sind. Mönche und Beamte haben als Berater der kaiserlichen Kanzlei diese Kapitulare verfasst, für die Zusammenstellung der Pflanzenliste bezogen sie ihr Wissen aus Büchern antiker Autoren, sowie aus eigenen langjährigen Erfahrungen und Kulturtraditionen klösterlicher Gärtner und Gärten.Auch im kleinen Capitularegarten am Rathaus auf der Seite zum Katschhof ist eine Auswahl dieser Kapitular-Pflanzen zu sehen.
Pflanzenlisten
Im 70. Absatz/Kapitelchen des Capitulare sind 73 Nutzpflanzen einschließlich Heilkräutern und 16 verschiedene Obstbäume beschrieben, die in allen kaiserlichen Gütern von den Verwaltern angepflanzt werden sollten. Schon vorher wird recht ausführlich in Kapitel 22 der Weinbau geregelt, in Kapitel 34 Malz (aus Gerste) erwähnt, in Kapitel 43 werden auch die Pflanzen linum (Flachs), waisdo (Waid) und vermiculo (Scharlach), in Kapitel 44 milium (Kolbenhirse), panicium (Fenchelhirse) und napos insuper (Frühkohl), in Kapitel 62 canava (Hanf) erwähnt, was in der Sekundärliteratur durch die Konzentration auf den 70. Abschnitt oft übersehen wird.

Der Karlsgarten
Der Karlsgarten nach dem Capitulare de villis Karls des Großen liegt im Westen von Aachen im Gelände bei Gut Melaten, das dem Freundeskreis Botanischer Garten Aachen mit Zustimmung des Landes NRW und der RWTH in langfristiger Pacht übertragen wurde. Er ist kein historischer Garten da es keine Überlieferung gibt, dass ein Garten im Mittelalter tatsächlich in dieser oder einer ähnlichen Ausführung existiert hat. Er erinnert an Karl den Großen, der durch Reformen und Gesetzestexte (Capitularien) sein Reich von Grund auf erneuerte. Das bekannteste und in seiner Nachwirkung bedeutendste Werk dieser Art ist das „Capitulare de villis vel curtis imperialibus", das in einer Abschrift erhalten geblieben ist. Karl der Große sorgte darin nicht nur für sein eigenes, geregeltes Auskommen, sondern auch für den Wohlstand seiner Untergebenen und schuf damit die erste Sozial- und (Land-)Wirtschaftsordnung des Mittelalters.
Im 70. Kapitel der Verordnung sind über 90 Pflanzen aufgelistet, die auf jedem königlichen Hofgut verfügbar sein sollten. Mönche als Berater und Beamte der kaiserlichen Kanzlei haben das Capitulare verfasst. Für die Zusammenstellung der Pflanzenliste haben sie aus Büchern über das Wissen antiker Autoren ebenso geschöpft wie aus der langen Erfahrung und Kulturtradition klösterlicher Gärtner und Gärten.
Kaiser Karl der Große (747-814) erkannte die Bedeutung der Kräuter. Er schuf ein Gesetz, das »Capitulare de villis et curtis«, in dem es Klöstern und Städten zur Pflicht gemacht wurde, Nutzgärten anzulegen. Dort mußten neben 20 Obstsorten auch 75 festgelegte Heil- und Gewürzpflanzen angebaut werde.
Karl der Große empfahl in seinem Werk "Capitulare de villis" den Anbau von Salbei. Im 14. Jahrhundert stand die Pflanze in der berühmten medizinischen Schule von Salerno im höchsten Ansehen: "Cur moriatur homo, cui salvia crescit in horte ?" - " Warurm stirbt der Mensch, wenn Salbei im Garten wächst?"

Il giardino di Carlo Magno è situato nella zona ovest di Aquisgrana nell’area di Gut-Melaten: Questo non è un giardino storico perché non ci è pervenuta alcuna testimonianza, però ricorda come lo concepì Carlo Magno attraverso le sue riforme e le sue leggi (Capitularien)
Nel corso del Medioevo la forma d'arte del giardino risente della complessità delle situazioni politiche e religiose e delle profonde trasformazioni storiche, sociali e culturali che caratterizzano i secoli a cavallo dell'anno Mille. Nelle sue tre diverse connotazioni formali, il giardino del borgo, quello del monastero e quello del castello, tale forma d'arte mantiene tuttavia una serie di implicazioni di carattere ideologico e simbolico, che ci vengono documentate dai trattati scientifici ma anche dalla produzione letteraria del tempo. L'arte del giardino e la trasmissione del sapere botanico sopravvivono, dunque, nel corso dell'Alto Medioevo, grazie a maestri giardinieri che lavorano presso nobili, sovrani e uomini di chiesa, e soprattutto grazie alle comunità monastiche. botaniche che i monaci acquisiscono, annotano in calendari, scritti e miniature e provvedono a far circolare attraverso gli scambi con altri centri religiosi. Il tentativo di recupero della cultura classica ed il nuovo impulso dato all'arte del giardino sono tra gli aspetti della Rinascenza Carolingia. È opera di Carlo Magno infatti il Capitulare de villis vel curtis imperii, trattato che comprende un elenco di 89 specie di piante, alberi e fiori redatto dall'imperatore al fine di fornire indicazioni precise sulle specie da coltivare nei suoi possedimenti. In età carolingia dunque si arricchisce il sapere relativo ai giardini, agli orti ed alle piante medicinali e ciò avviene anche grazie ai rapporti intessuti con l'Islam dal quale provengono nuove conoscenze botaniche e nuove specie vegetali, importate dalla Spagna e dall'Oriente.

Salerno School of Medicine

The foundation of the School is, by legend, attributed to four Masters: Helinus, Pontus, Adela and Salernus.The ars medica of Salerno was determined from the union of these four Jewish, Greek, Arabic and Latin cultures. Indeed, the geographical position of Salerno in the very heart of the Mediterranean Sea placed the city in a dominant crosspoint at the centre of important exchanges with East and Africa, promoted by Amalfi and Sicily.The great cultural revival linked to the fenomenon of Benedectine monasticism, which had its main centre at Montecassino and was represented in Salerno by the Abbey of S. Benedetto, also played an important role in the evolution of scientific study and therapeutical practice.The ars medica enriched its store of experimental knowledge both through its charitable, or to be more precise, hospital activities, wich were carried out in the infirmaries and monasteries, and also through the work of lay doctors, sometimes women, who first of all performed their experiments separately, and then together with a more speculative and didactic aim.
Historical evidence of the activities of the School goes back to the 10th century, but there is reference to it in a document by Federico II, published in Melfi in 1231, in which it was called the Salerno Medical School, the only one in the kingdom.In 1280, Carlo I gave it its first statute and continued its activities under changing circumstances up to 1811 when Gioacchino Murat reorganised the public education of the kingdom, and gave Naples University the exclusive right to grant degrees.

venerdì 15 maggio 2009

Roemische Wasserleitungen & Pompeii

Roemische Wasserleitungen
Die Eifelwasserleitung – auch Römerkanal oder die Römische Wasserleitung nach Köln genannt – war eines der längsten Aquädukte des römischen Imperiums und gilt als größtes antikes Bauwerk nördlich der Alpen. Das technische Kulturdenkmal ist beredtes Zeichen für die hohe Kunst römischer Ingenieure, deren techischer Standard auf dem Gebiet der Wasserversorgung erst in der Neuzeit wieder erreicht wurde.


Geschichte der Leitung
Die Anlage hatte eine Vorgängerin, die zwischen 1929 und 1953 ergraben wurden. Sie entstanden wahrscheinlich in verschiedenen Abschnitten bereits circa 30 n. Chr. vor Erhebung der Ubierstadt zur römischen Colonia. Sie nutzte einige Quellen und saubere Bäche des Höhenzuges Ville (süd-) westlich von Köln, insbesondere des Duffesbaches oder Hürther Baches. Bevor diese Bäche von den Römern kanalisiert wurden, versickerten sie im Rheinschotter. Als die Menge und Qualität des Wassers dieser Leitung nicht mehr ausreichten, die schnell wachsende antike Großstadt zu versorgen, obwohl die Quellen auch im Sommer durch die in der Ville wasserspeichernden Braunkohleschichten eine ausreichende Schüttung hatten, wurde eine neue Wasserleitung zu den Quellen in der Eifel angelegt. Das kalkreiche Quellwasser aus der Eifel war von besonderer Qualität.
Die Eifelwasserleitung wurde um das Jahr 80 n. Chr. in derNordeifel aus Römer-Beton und aus im Halbbogen gemauerten Steinen erbaut. Obwohl literarische und epigraphische Quellen fehlen, kann doch als sicher angenommen werden, dass die Leitung vom römischen Heer errichtet wurde, denn nur dieses verfügte über die entsprechenden Mittel. Sie hatte eine Länge von 95,4 Kilometern und eine Transportkapazität von bis zu 20.000 Kubikmetern Trinkwasser je Tag. Zählt man die verschiedenen Zuleitungen von den Quellen noch hinzu, dann hatte die Leitung sogar eine Länge von 130 km. Die Anlage versorgte die damalige römische Stadt Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium mit Wasser für die öffentlichen Laufbrunnen Thermen und privaten Hausanschlüsse.

Pipes at Pompeii
In the earliest period (2nd/1st century BC) the owners of the houses relied on water collected from the roofs and stored in underground cisterns. When the aqueduct system reached Pompeii, probably in the early 1st century AD, many houses installed piped water. The water was used principally to supply fountains, and in many cases the water did not go to the kitchen at all. This suggests that the running water was used mainly for show, although it could be argued that in the hot summer months it was a form of air conditioning. A number of lavatories were also found and documented.

mercoledì 15 aprile 2009

Amalfi_Repubbliche Marinare

Amalfi
An independent republic from the seventh century until 1075, it rivalled Pisa and Genoa in its domestic prosperity and maritime importance, before the rise of Venice. In spite of some devastating setbacks it had a population of some 70,000, reaching an apogee about the turn of the millennium, during the reign of Duke Manso (966–1004). Under his line of dukes, Amalfi remained independent, except for a brief period of Salernitan dependency under Guaimar IV.
In 1073 it fell to the Norman countship of Apulia, but was granted many rights. A prey to the Normans who encamped in the south of Italy, it became one of their principal posts. However, in 1131, it was reduced by King Roger II of Sicily, who had been refused the keys to its citadel. The Holy Roman Emperor Lothair, fighting in favour of Pope Innocent II against Roger, who sided with the Antipope Anacletus, took him prisoner in 1133, assisted by forty-six Pisan ships. The city was sacked by the Pisans, commercial rivals of the Amalfitani; Lothair claimed as part of the booty a copy of the Pandects of Justinian which was found there.


Repubbliche Marinare

The Repubbliche Marinare (Italian for "Maritime Republics") is the collective name of a number of important city-states which flourished in Italy and Dalmatia in the middle ages. Traditionally the major four are taken to be Amalfi, Pisa, Genoa, and Venice, whose coats of arms appear in the flag of the Marina Militare (Italian Navy). These states competed with each other both militarily and commercially. From the 10th to the 13th centuries these cities built fleets of ships both for their own protection and to support extensive trade networks across the Mediterranean, and had an essential role in the Crusades. As they found themselves in competition, these republics engaged in shifting alliances and warfare.
The four classic Maritime Republics in Italy are the ones given above, and they are always given in that order, reflecting the temporal sequence of their dominance. However, other towns in Italy also have a history of being Maritime Republics, though historically less prominent. These include Gaeta, Ancona, Molfetta, Trani and, in Dalmatia, Ragusa and Zara.
The Maritime Republics were city-states. They were generally republics in that they were formally independent, though most of them originated from territories once belonging to the Byzantin Empire(the main exceptions being Genoa and Pisa). All these cities during the time of their independence had similar (though not identical) systems of government in which the merchant class had considerable power.
The Maritime Republics were heavily involved in the Crusades, providing support but most especially taking advantage of the political and trading opportunities resulting from these wars. The Fourth Crusade, notionally intended to "liberate" Jerusalem, actually entailed the Venetian conquest of Zara and Constantinople.
Each of the Maritime Republics over time had dominion over different overseas lands, including many of the islands of the Mediterranean and especially Sardinia and Corsica, lands on the Adriatic, Aegean Sea and Black Sea (Crimea), and commercial colonies in the Near East and North Africa.

lunedì 13 aprile 2009

Amphitheater_Xanten & Anfiteatro_Pompei

Amphitheater - Xanten

Um möglichst viele Menschen mit aufwändigen Spektakeln unterhalten zu können, erfanden römische Ingenieure eine neue Bauform: das beidseitig (griech. amphi-) umschlossene Theater.neue Bauform von roemischen Ingenieuren oeffentliche Grossveranstaltungen wie Wagenrennen und Gladiatorenkaempfe ->sehr blutig war oft bis auf den letzten Platz gefuellt, Kampf auf Leben und Tod

Zuschauer kamen aud Nah und Fern, um Spektakel anzusehen Amphitheater in Xanten wurde im aeussersten Suedostwinkel der Colonia errichtet, um Schmutz und Laerm fernzuhalten - Fassungsvermoegen entsprach ca. Der Einwohnerzahl der gesamten Colonia - Amphitheater wurde rekonstruiert: es war 99m lang und an der Aussenwand rund 10m hoch - Die gesamte Baumasse betrug einst 40.000 Tonnen - Die Zuschauer konnten ihr Plaetye ueber insgesamt 12 Treppenschaechte erreichen - Einfache Volk: obere Sitzreihen - Hohes Volk: drei untere Reihen, um es sich auf mitgebrachten hoelzernen Sesseln bequem zu machen









Anfiteatro in Pompei

L'anfiteatro di Pompei è il più antico anfiteatro romano del mondo. Fu costruito dai due magistrati che reggevano il governo della città (duoviri) subito dopo la fondazione della colonia sillana e poteva ospitare fino a 20.000 spettatori. I magistrati si chiamavano Quinzio Valgo e Marco Porcio, gli stessi che costruirono il teatro coperto.

Spesso, nelle città conquistate dai romani, accadeva che i grandi edifici da spettacolo venissero costruiti in zone periferiche sia per il costo minore dei terreni, sia per evitare i disagi dovuti all'affollamento degli spettatori nel centro della città. Per la costruzione venne sfruttato l'aggere della fortificazione più antica, che forniva un poderoso terrapieno a cui venne addossata la fondazione delle gradinate orientali. Un nuovo terrapieno fu invece realizzato appositamente per sostenere le gradinate occidentali. Oltre la fortificazione non sappiamo cosa ci fosse in questa zona prima della costruzione dell'anfiteatro, ma è possibile che vi si trovassero della abitazioni private come nel caso della vicina palestra grande. Come nei moderni teatri, le gradinate (cavea) erano divise in ordini di diversa qualità, che avevano anche ingressi separati. A ridosso dell'arena, si trovavano i posti migliori, riservati ai magistrati, ai membri del senato locale (decurioni), agli organizzatori e finanziatori dei giochi. In caso di eccessiva calura, gli spettatori potevano essere riparati da enormi teli (vela) che venivano issati sopra la cavea e l'arena. Gli spettacoli prevedevano combattimenti tra uomini e animali, oppure tra uomini e uomini, ed erano seguiti da arbitri e giudici di gara, come spiegavano una serie di affreschi dipinti tutto intorno all'arena e purtroppo oggi perduti. In occasione degli spettacoli, intorno all'anfiteatro si svolgeva un mercato e i venditori, con il permesso dei magistrati competenti (edili) potevano addirittura utilizzare gli archi della struttura esterna come botteghe.

Das Amphitheater in Pompeii
Das Amphitheater in Pompeii ist das älteste römische Amphitheater der Welt. Es wurde nach der Zeit der Siliana- Kolonien gegründet und konnte bis zu 20.000 Zuschauer beherbergen.
Die beiden Richter Quirino Valgo und Marco Porcio, die die Regierung der Stadt verwalteten, lieβen es nach ihren Wünschen erbauen, und wollten zu einem späteren Zeitpunkt auch ein Dachtheater hinzufügen.
Die Städte der Römern zu erobern und groβe Bauwerke für öffentliche Groβveranstaltungen, fern vom Zentrum oder am Rand der Stadt, zu errichten, war Sitte; Ziel war, möglichst wenig Fläche zu belegen und Schmutz und Lärm fernzuhalten.
Für die Erbauung des Amphitheaters benutzte man einen mächtigen Erdwall, auf dem sich die östlichen Treppenschächte stützten. Auf westlicher Seite wurde ein künstlicher Erdwall zum Schutz der Treppenschächte aufgehäuft.
Was auf diesem Gelände vorher war, ist unbekannt, es wird behauptet, dass es sich um private Häuser handelte, wie Reste einer groβen Turnhalle daneben bezeugen könnten.
Die Treppenschächte waren, wie bei modernen Theatern, in verschiedene Stufen unterschiedlichen Niveaus eingeteilt, und hatten auch unabhängige Eingänge.
In der Arena waren die besten Sitzplätze für Richter, Senatoren und für Organisations- und Begleitpersonen reserviert.
Bei Hitze konnten sich sie Zuschauer mit großen, aufziehbaren Stoffsegeln vor der Sonne schützen.
Die Zuschauer verfolgten Kämpfe zwischen Mensch und Tier oder unter Menschen, die Kämpfe wurden von Schieds- und Spielrichter begleitet und unterstützt. Fresken auf den Wänden um die Arena illustrierten dies, leider sind sie heute nicht mehr für uns zu sehen.
Bei jeder Veranstaltung des Amphitheaters wurde um das Theater herum ein Markt abgehalten, und die Händler durften, von Fachrichtern überwacht, die Fläche unter den Baubogen als eigenes Geschäft benutzen.

Elisenbrunnen_Ravello

Elisenbrunnen

Im 19. Jahrhundert als repräsentatives Bauwerk vom berühmten Architekten Friedrich Schinkel um die "Kaiserquelle" erbaut, bildet der Elisenbrunnen auch im heutigen Stadtbild einen großen Anziehungspunkt für Aachener und zahlreiche Besucher. Namensgeberin für Aachens Wahrzeichen ist Kronprinzessin Elisabeth von Bayern (1801 bis 1873), Gemahlin des preußischen Königs Friedrich Wilhelm IV, die häufig als Besucherin die Vorzüge Aachens genoss. Als Attraktion für die Kurgäste gedacht, wurde der in strenger klassizistischer Stilrichtung erbaute Elisenbrunnen 1827 eingeweiht. Neben Marmortafeln, die über die berühmten Kurgäste der Stadt erzählen – wie Georg Friedrich Händel, Peter der Große und Casanova - prangt die Büste der Namensgeberin. Im 19. und 20. Jahrhundert stieg Aachen zum mondänen Modeb ad auf und alles was Rang und Namen hatte traf sich in den Bädern - ein gesellschaftlicher Treffpunkt der Stadt. Im Elisenbrunnen sprudelt 52 Grad heißes Thermalwasser aus zwei Trinkbrunnen, das zwar unangenehm riecht, dafür aber für verschiedenste Krankheiten, wie Rheuma und Hautkrankheiten, heilsam ist.

The Elisa Fountain (Elisenbrunnen) is the symbol of the spa town of Aachen. It was constructed in 1827 according to plans of the architects Cremer and Schinkel. At the time, the Elisa Fountain served as a drinking hall and a promenading hall and still today it is possible to try the healing thermal waters of Aachen from this fountain. Marble plaques remind us of the names of the famous visitors that came to the Aachen spa over the centuries, amongst them Händel and Casanova.

Ravello - Villa Rufolo and Villa Cimbrone

A small, incomparbly beautiful village which has attracted the most famous people over the centuries. The first one to be astonished by such beauty was the writer Giovanni Boccaccio who quotes it in his Decameron. It was the year 1350 and since then so many international celebrities have been enchanted by the sights of this place. Located on a promontory 350 mt above sea levels. In addition to the cathedral of St Pantaleone, the Roman churches and wonderful landscapes, Ravello worth a visit for its two pearls . Villa Rufolo and Villa Cimbrone.









Villa Rufolo

On the right side of the square (where the cathedral is) you’ll see the quadrangular tower which gives way to Villa Rufolo: a group of buildings in Arabesque style built by the noble family Rufolo to symbolize their wealth. Now it is site of the Antiquarium, a precious archeological museum which is unluckly closed. The public is admitted to visit (from 9.00 to 20, in summer, from 9 to 18 in winter) the Moorish cloister, the tower, the famous esotic gardens, whose beauty inspired the German composer Wagner for his Parsifal. In his journal he wrote:” the enchanted gardens of Klingsor have been found”. He meant he had found the ideal setting for his play, the place where his hero had to resist temptations of satanic young girls. That is why, since then, at the beginning of the second act of the Parsifal, wherever it is is beng perfomed, the gardens of Ravello are immortalized. The same gardens, every year in July, are setting of the world famous “Wagner Festival” important event for classic music.

Villa Cimbrone

Many famous people were astonished by this villa: the British politician Winston Churchill, the American actress Greta Garbo and the English writer Virginia Woolf. Antient noble residence, it was bought at the beginning of the ‘900 by lord Ernest William Beckett, one of the many English scholars involved in the Grand tour. It is a wide complex including, in its central area, a luxurious 4 stars hotel, an arabesque cloister and an arched cript in gotic style. In the flowered garden surronding the villa (public is admitted from 9.00 to sunset) you can admire: the small temple of Bacco, the cave of Eve ( a natural grotto with her marble statue); the terrace of roses ( an Italian style garden) a bronze statue of David and the tea room. In the garden you will also admire the immense alley, covered with a white glycin pergola and the temple of Cerere, at the end of the alley, the breathtaking terrace “ belvedere” with one of the most spectacular view over the gulf as far as Paestum, also called “terrace to the infinite”.

Parco nazionale del Cilento_Eifel National Park

Cilento National Park was founded in 1991. It is locatd between Paestum and Gulf of Policastro, in the central and southern part of the Province of Salerno. Very important tourist area and Unesco World Heritage Site (1998). The most important places are: the greek city of Paestum, the Greek Roman city of Velia and the Certosa of Padula, a large famous Chartusian monastery and it is the second largest Chartreuse in Italy after the one in Parma. The monastery has the biggest cloister in the world at 12,000 m².

The National Park of Cilento and Vallo di Diano is a place in the world that you must experience at least once in your life, where mountains join the sea, nature meets up with history, beautiful landscapes mix with the fragrant smell of wild plants, and people come together to enjoy the incredible food and wine of these parts. This region is a part of the National Park of Cilento and Vallo di Diano, in Southern Italy. After you arrive here you will wish to have discovered it much sooner. If you are looking for something really different and to experience Italy off the beaten path, come and discover this place that is truly to come and see.

National Park Eifel (Let nature be nature) was founded in 2004. It is located 65 kilometres south-west Cologne and 50 kilometres southeast of Aachen. It draws a huge number of tourists throughout the year. It covers an area of about 107 square kilometres.

The Eifel National Park, Germany is one of the most popular national parks here. It features water and woods and extends to the visitors a fascinating experience in the lap of nature.

The Eifel National Park, Germany, with the motto "Let nature be nature" features nature's beauty and diversity at the same time. Located 65 kilometers south-west of Cologne and 50 kilometers southeast of Aachen, this national park draws a huge number of tourists and local people throughout the year. Covering an area about 107 square kilometers, the Eifel National Park was established on the 1st of January 2004 and is the 14th National Park in Germany. Dive deep into the beauties of nature in this park with the rushing streams and the yellow daffodils in the southern areas during spring. The Northern part of Eifel National Park is charecterised by large areas of deciduous forests with deep reaching river valleys. This national park is home to 230 endangered animal and plant species.

You will find nearly 1.300 beetle species. Red deer, wild cats, beavers, black storchs, eagle owls and even wall - lizzards consists of the fauna of the Eifel National Park. The flora mainly comprises the Yellow Daffodils, which create a yellow carpet of flowers here. Have a great time while you have bird's eye view over three water reservoirs of the Eifel region or relax while hiking through romantic stream valleys and amazing beech forests. The Eifel National Park is a hot spot for the hikers. This national park extends unique hikes and numerous activities for all ages. The three information centers Gates, in Schleiden-Gemuend, Simmerath-Rurberg and in the train station of Heimbach present fascinating exhibitions mixed with comprehensive tourist information. The Eifel National Park, Germany is a must visit for the tourists. You will really miss out something if you can't make your visit to this celebrated national park in Germany.

martedì 3 marzo 2009

La ceramica vietrese_Die Vietri Keramik_Vietri Ceramics

La stagione più fertile della ceramica vietrese è quella a cavallo tra le due guerre (1920-1947), il cosiddetto “periodo tedesco” quando numerosi artisti stranieri, per lo più di origine germanica, spinti dalla vita libera che vi si poteva condurre e dal più basso costo della vita, si insediarono nella zona formando una vera e propria colonia impegnata nelle ceramiche locali; costoro, pur rispettando la tradizione locale, rinnovarono gli stili e crearono nuove forme e nuove decorazioni. Tra i maggiori esponenti di quel felice periodo ricordiamo: Riccardo Doelker, il primo artista d’oltralpe che rivoluzionò la decorazione e la tradizione della ceramica vietrese grazie alla sua impronta personale e al suo segno istintivo e creativo, carico di immagini e di colore. La sua propensione verso i temi popolari, dalle feste in costume alle processioni, dai temi pirateschi a quelli guerrieri, da quelli ereditati dall’arte etrusca e dall’artecristiana, alla predilezione quasi francescana per gli animali, lo rese particolarmente vicino a una sensibilità mediterranea che esalta il colore e la fantasia. Nel 1923 plasmò con la creta la caratteristica figura del “ciucciariello” che divenne il simbolo di Vietri e della sua ceramica. Le sue pitture dalla spontanea espressività quotidiana davano anima e suggestione al manufatto ceramico, fondendosi con esso, sia che fossero vasi o brocche, e piatti o mattonelle.








Irene Kowaliska, che seppe mescolare, in un’atmosfera di incanto, la cultura locale al mondo delle favole della cultura centroeuropea di cui la letteratura nordica è ricca. La vita quotidiana delle popolazioni costiere del nostro Meridione, nelle sue manifestazioni più semplici e dolci, sono riconoscibili nelle sue opere, ma in questi elementi la Kowaliska non fa che esprimere se stessa nella continua ricerca di due concetti: amore e felicità. Barbara Margarethe Thewalt Hannash realizza fantasmagorici gruppi di Natività, iconici eppure eterei volti di donna, soggetti faunistici, forme imprendibili di una fantasia che viaggia tra il mito e la metafora, e che fanno conquistare alla produzione ceramica vietrese un livello artistico non eguagliato per gusto, eleganza e raffinatezza. Gli stiletti animati e policromatici dai ricchi e forti contorni tonali, i segni decorativi che rivelano atmosfere fiabesche ed orientali, il misurato plasticismo sobriamente ludico, l’esilità degli smalti lievi come raggi di luna, fanno della Thewalt-Hannash, Bab per gli amici, la personalità più significativa del “Periodo Tedesco”. Amerigo Tot, conosciuto come l’artista dell’età del bronzo per le sue strutture maiolicate e bronzee, assume nel 1948 la direzione artistica della fabbrica ceramica di V. Pinto che manterrà fino al 1952. Egli realizza sculture-ceramiche, come le “Forme Abbracciate” che richiamano dinamiche improntate a scansioni ordinate, dove l’adesione neocubista è esaltata dall’intrecciarsi dei profili geometrizzanti delle figure. Lascia a suo ricordo la maestosa statua sul piccolo molo di Positano. Max Melamerson, proprietario dell’Industria Ceramica Salernitana (ICS), apporta un significativo cambiamento nella produzione artistica della ceramica vietrese. Pur mantenendo alcune tipologie ceramiche consolidate dagli usi e dalla tradizione, diversifica la produzione modificando i gusti floreali in espressioni baroccheggianti o in motivazioni di gusto marino segnate da innovative notazioni cromatiche e proponendo un nuovo linguaggio espresso dalla sensibilità ed abilità decorativa degli artisti stranieri. La fitta rete intessuta per una più ampia divulgazione della propria produzione fa conoscere, grazie al prezioso contributo di Margarethe Thewalt-Hannasc, Diesel Opel e Lothar Eglive suoi collaboratori, la ceramica vietrese all’Italia e all’estero.

Fra gli artisti italiani che gravitano nell’orbita dei tedeschi, dobbiamo citare:Guido Gambone, avellinese di nascita ma vietrese per adozione, un artista dalla straordinaria creatività che ha attraversato con una personalità forte e dirompente una stagione di grandi fermenti nella ceramica vietrese.Tra i più importanti ceramisti del XX secolo, Gambone riesce ad affermarsi per il notevole talento nel rielaborare il patrimonio proveniente dalla tradizione da cui riesce a cogliere lo spessore di materialità mediterranea che ne costituisce il più autentico contenuto. Una materialità che Gambone intravede, peraltro, non solo nella originaria essenzialità delle tipologie formali e decorative, ma che sente anche nelle procedure e nelle pratiche di utilizzo produttivo delle materie.

L’amore per la pittura è, forse, la chiave della suaavventura artistica, che divenne per Gambone il sentiero che lo conduce al di là dell’orizzonte, oltre il confine del quotidiano, oltre l’orlato contorno dei

monti della propria terra. Nella sua produzione si manifesta “un’esigenza umana”, come di chi abbia voluto imprimere il timbro del suo personale lirismo alle suppellettili di tutti i giorni. Giovannino Carrano, con una sensibilità innata e continuamente coltivata, sviluppa sin dall’adolescenza, un continuo dialogo con la ceramica e con Vietri. Il suo stile è fondato su un grafismo equilibrato, morbido e senza spigolature in cui il verde ramina e il manganese suggeriscono effetti di campo ceramico e composto e spazi soffusi di ordinate atmosfere. Egli assimila le motivazioni del periodo tedesco ed artigiano, le narra con felicità espressiva. Gli uomini e le cose, il mare e la terra, sono per lui spettacoli del tempo; i gesti animati, ancorati a manualità arcaiche, diventano rappresentazione del tessuto etnico vietrese. Le storie omeriche e le favole di Esopo, le processioni rievocanti Doelker, i cicli rurali e le temperie marine, le miriadi di animali e cose, il mondo pastorale e le raffigurazioni floreali sono il diversificato panorama decorativo della sua produzione. Egli è emblema di vero artigiano, la sua tecnica e il lavoro quotidiano saranno per Vietri esempio di notevole coerenza e di dignità di lavoro. Tanti altri come Andrea D’Arienzo, Lucio e Pasquale Liguori, Mattia Limongelli, Luigi Manzo, Salvatore, Vincenzo e Giosuè Procida, Giuseppe Caporossi, Antonio Franchini, Franco Raimondi, Giovanni Sersante, Alessandro Mautone, Matteo e Vincenzo Rispoli, con i loro personalissimi stili legati alle tradizioni del luogo hanno dato e continuano a dare lustro a questo lembo di terra della costiera amalfitana.









Die Vietri Keramik

Die Keramikindustrie in Vietri besteht mit Sicherheit seit dem Ende des 15. Jahrhundert, wie man aus bisher veröffentlichten historischen Dokumenten ableiten kann, und reiht sich in die schon vorher existierende und zeitgleiche Aktivität der Keramikproduktion in der Salernoregion ein, die durch die Lehmgruben in Ogliara begünstigt wurde“ das is der Ausspruch von Aniello Tesauro. Aus den Studien von Sinno geht hervor, dass die Keramikkunst durch den Zuzug von Handwerken aus den Abruzzen in die Salernoregion in der ersten Hälfte des 17. Jhs einen qualitativen Sprung gemacht haben soll und dadurch eine neue bemerkenswerte künstlerische Formen angenommen habe. Die ältesten Kachelexemplaren mit Votivbildern, die in den kleinen Strassen und Gassen von Marina di Vietri bis Molina zu finden sind, auf diese Epoche zurück und sind Ausdruck einer Volksfrömmigkeit, die jahrhundert lang stark darauf bedacht war, dass diese Kunst nicht verloren geht. Die Keramikerstellung des 18.Jhs betraf vor allem Vasen und Gegenstände für den täglichen Gebrauch: wie Kannen Flaschen, Wasser- und Ölgefäβe, Krüge, Schalen, Teller, Schüsseln, Suppenterrinen, Schirmständer, sowie Öllampen, Blumenvasen, Fliesen mit weltlichen Landschaftsszenen. Die dekorativen Motive sind einfach, oft mit marmorierten Rändern, es sind zumeist Blumen, manchmal werden Tiere hinzugefügt, wie etwa einHahn oder ein Vogel, oder Elemente, die mit dem Meer zusammen hängen wie Kraken oder Segelschiffe, die über die die gesamte Fläche verteilt sind, oder auch Landschaftsszenen. Die Keramikkunst von Vietri blieb mehr oder weniger unverändert bis zum Beginn des 20. Jahrunderts, als in den zwanziger Jahren die „Deutsche Periode“ begann, die manso nannte wegen des verstärkten Zuzugs von Ausländern – vor allem von Deutschen – nach Vietri, die hierher kamen, um in den Keramikfabriken zu arbeiten. Dieser Zeitraum dauerte vom Beginn der zwanzig er Jahre bis zum Zweiten Weltkrieg. Durch die Erfahrung in der Fabrik „Fontana Limite“ in der Günther Stüdemann arbeitete, und die Tätigkeit von vielen Künstlerpersönlichkeiten wie Richard Dölker, Irene Kowaliska, Margarete Thewalt Hannasch, Marianne Amos oder Guido Gambone aus Avellino, Salvatore procida und dem damals sehr jungen Giovannino Carrano, kann es zu einer künstlerisch sehr wertvollen Periode. Auch in ihren Erinnerungen erzählen die Künstler von dieser glücklichen Zeit in Vietri: Erinnerungen an den Duft von Orangenblüten, den Marianne Amos so liebte und der vom Mistralwind herbeigeweht wurde, und an die nostalgischen und leidenschaftlichen neapolitanischen Lieder der braungebrannten Arbeiter, die Irene Kowaliska so bewegten. Es war ein fröhlicher und heiterer Lebensrhythmus, ein Fest von Farben und Düften, das, nach den Erzählung der Tochter Monika, Margarethe Thewalt Hannasch weiter in seinen Bann zog, auch nachdem die Künstlerin schon lange wieder nach deutschland zurückgekehrt war. Im Werk dieser Künstler sind zwei wesentliche Aspekte zu erkennen: der Bekanntere bezieht sich auf das reiche Reportoire an Mensch und Natur, mit dem sie direkten Kontakt hatten – die Fischer und die Frauen am Brunnen, die Boote, das Meer, die Kinder an der Mutterbrust, der Mond und die Sonne, die Blumen und letztendlich der typische kleine Esel, den vor allem die Deutschen in ihrer neuen Bilderwelt bevorzugt darstellten, eine Abänderung der sardinischen Landschaft, die Dölker und Kowaliska so teuer war. Der andere Aspekt leitet sich von dem reichen Kulturschatz ab, dem groβen Wissen über die alte Welt und ihre Kunstwerke, das jeder dieser Künstler auf seine Weise in das eigene Werk einflieβen lieβ, sodass es von starken Einflüssen bald aus der Antike, bald aus dem Mittelalter oder aus der Renaissance zeugte. Die Geschichte der Keramikkunst in Vietri zeugt aber auch von der Bedeutung der vielen oft unbekannt gebliebenen Künstler, die eine Farbenwelt mit einem ganz weiten Spektrum an grünen, gelben, braunen, blauen, orangen, roten und rosa Tönen erschufen.

The Vietri Ceramic

It is stated from the documents till now published that with no doubt the ceramic industy at Vietri dates back to the end of the 15. century and that it is inserted into a pre-existent and contemporary activity of the pottery industy in the Salerno area favoured by the clay caves Ogliara” , we can affirm that with Aniello Tersauro. According to the hypothesis based on the studies of Sinno, the arrival of artisans from the Abruzzi in the Salerno region in the first half of the 17. century would have caused a leap in quality towards an impressive achievement of artistic forms. Yet, in that period have origin the most ancient specimens of votive tiles that were applied scattered on the lanes and streets from Marina di Vietri to Molina, in the high fractions of Dragonea, Albori, Benincasa and Raito, as an expression of popular religiousness and devotion, so that their dispersion could be avoided for many centuries. The ceramic produced in the 19. century presents at the most vases and objects of daily use: like jugs, bottles, vases for water and oil, jars, bowls, dishes, basins, tureens, umbrella –stands, lamps. Flower vases, tiles with scenes of landscapes and profane subject. The dishes called “piatti reali” (”royal dishes”) were used by the poor people as the only dishes where everyone could commonly help himself and also for the preservation of food to be consumed in winter time. The motive of decorations are simple with floral characteristics and often marbleised edges, sometimes inserting zoomorphic elements like a cock or a bird and marine elements like an octopus or sailing vessels, covering the entire decorative space, or also landscape scenes. The Vietrese production remained more or less unchanged till the beginning of the 20. century when in the twenties began the period classified as “Germen”, so called by the influx of foreigners, for the most part Germans, who came to work in the ceramic factories. Such period is chronologically contained between the beginning of the twenties and the Second World War. The experience already made in 1924 at the factory of “Fontana Limite” where Günther Stüdemann had worked, and the presence, more or less at the same time, of numerous artistic personalities like Richard Dölker, Irene Kowaliska, Margarete Thewalt Hannasch, Marianne Amos, or Guido Gambone from Avellino, Salvatore Procida and Giovannino Carrano, whowas very jung then, allowed the development of a very happy artistic season: Happy were also the memories written aboaut the time passed together at Vietri: whey could smell the perfume of the orange blooms brought by the northwest wind that Marianne Amos loved so much, or when the nostalgic and passionate Neapolitan songs of the dark skin workmen touched with commotion Irene Kowaliska. Margarette Thewalt Hannasch gone back to Germany many years ago tells her daughter Monica how she was continually enchanted by the rhythm of cheerful and calm way of living in a feast of colours and flovours. In their prodaction two aspects are put together: the most famous is taken from the rich natural and human collection which they find themselves in direct contact with – the fishermen and the women near the fountain, the boats, the sea, the children at their mother’s breast, the moon and the sun, the flowers and at the last the characteristic donkey that will be privileged specially by the Germans in the new world of figurations, substituting it from from the Sardinian landscape so dear to Richard Dölker and to Irene Kowaliska. The other aspect derives from the rich cultural baggage that each was able to transfer in his own activity, a baggage of knowledge of the ancient world and its material production, and so they were now deeply immersed in the Ancient world, now in the Middle Ages and then in the Renaissance. But the story of Vietrese ceramic can also be seen by the many colours on the pallet with shades of greens, yellows, brown, blue and again orange, red and pink, so that many times the profit given by the artisan protagonists remained anonymous.