The Tarot: The name originally came from the Brescian "Tarocho" - Part III

Cards from the Pierpont Morgan Bergamo deck

Final thoughts

Apparently the Tarot came into Europe via Marduk, Egypt (Egypt, the Levant, and Hejaz), and the first European records of them were in Milan, Ferrara, Florence, and Bologna. With such an obscure origin, they may be a remnant of the old mystery schools which stretched from ancient western Europe (Druids?) to Greece to Egypt to India to China at one point. Also, it was very dicey with the Medieval power of the Church, and the Islamic world looming so large. The old knowledge and teachings of Hermeticism and similar ancient traditions were already present when Christian and Muslim despots arrived on the world stage as societies transitioned from native paganism to Abrahamic systems (the Middle East had been largely Indo-European with spiritual systems such as Zoroastrianism).

Queen Theodelinda fresco at Monza

Where the Tarot may have fit in within the ancient wisdom... I'm sure someone from some level of initiation knows. It's very curious that the modern incarnation of Tarot got its name from Brescia. The artisans of Brescia--whether producing fine clothing, luxurious silk accessories, leather products, brilliant weaponry, the finest textiles, etc--were second to none. They exported their crafts to the Near East during that time period, and perhaps that's how the Tarot came in. Brescia was then part of the Venetian Republic, and Venetian ships exported the goods overseas.

The middle card in the image above looks much like depictions of the Lombard Queen Theodelinda, and perhaps the figure on horseback as well. Compare those images to the example of the art depiction of Theodelinda on the left, from the Cathedral she had constructed at Monza, Lombardia. What other monarchical figure in Lombardia appeared like that... blonde.. monarchical.. so grand? Clearly someone important, a queen. I can't think of too many others. Was there a Queen Theodelinda card(s) on the Pierpont Morgan Bergamo deck? She ruled some seven centuries earlier.

Milanese tarocchi, c. 1500

A terrific head of state, Theodelinda could very well have been declared a Catholic saint. The Pierpont Morgan Bergamo card image would be very consistent with her artistic portrayals, downplaying her beauty, and depicting her as merely stately. Early historians had clearly described her as tall and beautiful, and she was later depicted as somewhat shorter as well. I guess it wasn't acceptable to show a woman as beautiful and physically imposing, especially if she was such a great head of state. Things were very touch-and-go when she took over alone as Queen of the Langobards. She was extremely loved by her people, and proceeded to patch things up with the Vatican and other surrounding states, pragmatically codified laws, defined the culture, and was a great patron of the arts. One of the great underappreciated female rulers in world history; one of the great underappreciated heads of state, period!

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The Tarot: The name originally came from the Brescian "Tarocho" - Part II

Arms for the Visconti-Sforza family

Trionfi (cards)

Trionfi (Italian: 'triumphs') are 15th-century Italian playing cards with allegorical content related to those used in tarocchi games. The general English expression "trump card" and the German "trumpfen" (in card games) have developed from the Italian "Trionfi". Most cards feature the personification of a place or abstraction.

 

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History

Many of the motifs found in trionfi are found in trionfo, theatrical processions that were popular in the Italian Renaissance. The Palazzo Schifanoia in Ferrara, once owned by the ducal House of Este, contains many murals depicting these floats. Petrarch wrote a poem called I Trionfi which may have served as inspiration.

The earliest known use of the name "Trionfi" in relation to cards can be dated to 16 September 1440 in the records of a Florentine notary, Giusto Giusti. He recorded a transaction where he transferred two expensive personalized decks to Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta.

In a letter from 11 November 1449, Antonio Jacopo Marcello used the expression triumphorum genus for a deck that was produced sometime between 1418 and 1425. It was commissioned by the duke of Milan, Filippo Maria Visconti, painted by Michelino da Besozzo and described in an accompanying text by Martiano da Tortona.

Two decks from June 1457 seem to relate to a visit at Ferrara of the young Milanese heir of the dukedom Galeazzo Maria Sforza in July/August 1457. Each deck consisted of 70 cards — the modern Tarot deck typically has 78.

The earliest known appearance of the word "Tarocho" as the new name for the game is in Brescia around 1502).

[Depaulis, Thierry (2008). "Entre farsa et barzelletta: jeux de cartes italiens autours de 1500". The Playing-Card. 37 (2): 89–102]

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Tarocchini

Tarocchini (plural for tarocchino) are point trick-taking tarot card games popular in Bologna, capital city of the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy and has been confined mostly to this area. They are the diminutive form of tarocchi (plural for tarocco), referring to the reduction of the Bolognese pack from 78 to 62 cards, which probably occurred in the early 16th century.

The games of Tarocchini are very complex, yet the rules have changed little over the years.

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Visconti-Sforza tarot deck

The Visconti-Sforza tarot is used collectively to refer to incomplete sets of approximately 15 decks from the middle of the 15th century, now located in various museums, libraries, and private collections around the world. No complete deck has survived; rather, some collections boast a few face cards, while some consist of a single card. They are the oldest surviving tarot cards and date back to a period when tarot was still called Trionfi ("triumphs" i.e. trump) cards, and used for everyday playing. They were commissioned by Filippo Maria Visconti, Duke of Milan, and by his successor and son-in-law Francesco Sforza. They had a significant impact on the visual composition, card numbering and interpretation of modern decks.

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Overview

The surviving cards are of particular historical interest because of the beauty and detail of the design, which was often executed in precious materials and often reproduce members of the Visconti and Sforza families in period garments and settings. Consequently, the cards also offer a glimpse of nobiliary life in Renaissance Milan, which the Visconti called home since the 13th century.

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Pierpont Morgan Bergamo (card deck)

This deck, also known as Colleoni-Baglioni and Francesco Sforza, was produced around 1451. Originally composed of 78 cards, it now contains 74, i.e. 20 trumps, 15 face cards, and 39 pip cards. The Morgan Library & Museum in New York City has 35, the Accademia Carrara has 26 in its catalogue, while the remaining 13 are in the private collection of the Colleoni family in Bergamo. Trumps and face cards have a gilt background, while the pip cards are cream-coloured with a flower and vine motif. The two missing trumps are the Devil and the Tower. Modern published reproductions of this deck usually contain attempted reconstructions of missing cards.

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The Tarot: The name originally came from the Brescian "Tarocho" - Part I

Tarot

[The Tarot] first known as trionfi and later as tarocchi or tarock, is a pack of playing cards, used from at least the mid-15th century in various parts of Europe to play games such as Italian tarocchini; many games are still played today; in the late 18th century, some tarot decks began to be used for divination via tarot card reading and cartomancy leading to custom decks developed for such occult purposes.

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History

The first documented tarot packs were recorded between 1440 and 1450 in Milan, Ferrara, Florence and Bologna when additional trump cards with allegorical illustrations were added to the common four-suit pack. These new decks were called carte da trionfi, triumph cards, and the additional cards known simply as trionfi, which became "trumps" in English. The earliest documentation of trionfi is found in a written statement in the court records of Florence, in 1440, regarding the transfer of two decks to Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta.

The oldest surviving tarot cards are the 15 or so Visconti-Sforza tarot decks painted in the mid-15th century for the rulers of the Duchy of Milan. A lost tarot-like pack was commissioned by Duke Filippo Maria Visconti and described by Martiano da Tortona probably between 1418 and 1425, since the painter he mentions, Michelino da Besozzo, returned to Milan in 1418, while Martiano himself died in 1425. He described a 60-card deck with 16 cards having images of the Roman gods and suits depicting four kinds of birds. The 16 cards were regarded as "trumps" since in 1449 Jacopo Antonio Marcello recalled that the now deceased duke had invented a novum quoddam et exquisitum triumphorum genus, or "a new and exquisite kind of triumphs". Other early decks that also showcased classical motifs include the Sola-Busca and Boiardo-Viti decks of the 1490s.

In Florence, an expanded deck called Minchiate was used. This deck of 97 cards includes astrological symbols and the four elements, as well as traditional tarot motifs.

The expansion of tarot outside of Italy, first to France and Switzerland, occurred during the Italian Wars. The most important tarot pattern used in these two countries was the Tarot of Marseilles of Milanese origin.

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Etmology

The word Tarot and German Tarock derive from the Italian Tarocchi, the origin of which is uncertain but taroch was used as a synonym for foolishness in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. The decks were known exclusively as Trionfi during the fifteenth century.

The new name first appeared in Brescia around 1502 as Tarocho.

[Depaulis, Thierry (2008). "Entre farsa et barzelletta: jeux de cartes italiens autours de 1500". The Playing-Card. 37 (2): 89–102]

During the 16th century, a new game played with a standard deck but sharing a very similar name (Trionfa) was quickly becoming popular. This coincided with the older game being renamed tarocchi. In modern Italian, the singular term is Tarocco, which, as a noun, refers to a cultivar of blood orange. The attribute Tarocco and the verb Taroccare are used regionally to indicate that something is fake or forged. This meaning is directly derived from the tarocchi game as played in Italy, in which tarocco indicates a card that can be played in place of another card.

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Gaming decks

The original purpose of tarot cards was to play games. A very cursory explanation of rules for a tarot-like deck is given in a manuscript by Martiano da Tortona before 1425. Vague descriptions of game play or game terminology follow for the next two centuries until the earliest known complete description of rules for a French variant in 1637. The game of tarot has many regional variations. Tarocchini has survived in Bologna and there are still others played in Piedmont and Sicily, but in Italy the game is generally less popular than elsewhere.

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Tarocco Piemontese: the Fool card

These were the oldest form of tarot deck to be made, being first devised in the 15th century in northern Italy. Three decks of this category are still used to play certain games:

The Tarocco Piemontese consists of the four suits of swords, batons, cups and coins, each headed by a king, queen, cavalier and jack, followed by the pip cards for a total of 78 cards. Trump 20 outranks 21 in most games and the Fool is numbered 0 despite not being a trump.
 
The Swiss 1JJ Tarot is similar, but replaces the Pope with Jupiter, the Popess with Juno, and the Angel with the Judgement. The trumps rank in numerical order and the Tower is known as the House of God. The cards are not reversible like the Tarocco Piemontese.

The Tarocco Bolognese omits numeral cards two to five in plain suits, leaving it with 62 cards, and has somewhat different trumps, not all of which are numbered and four of which are equal in rank. It has a different graphical design than the two above as it was not derived from the Tarot of Marseilles.

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Card reading

The earliest evidence of a tarot deck used for cartomancy (fortune telling) comes from an anonymous manuscript from around 1750 which documents rudimentary divinatory meanings for the cards of the Tarocco Bolognese.

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Total Wine & More: 6 wines available from Lombardia - 4 of them from the famous Franciacorta wine region in Brescia!

L'Albereta Hotel at the L'Albereta Winery, Erbusco, Brescia (Franciacorta wine region)

 

Franciacorta wine region

Ancient Viticulture

The vineyards of Franciacorta were planted in ancient times, as witnessed by the grape seeds from prehistoric times and the archaeological material found throughout the territory. There are also other testimonies of classical authors such as Plinio and Columella a Virgilio. Through historiographical evidences it is possible to trace the passage of different peoples: the Cenomani Gauls, the Romans and the Lombards. The most abundant material is the Roman one and consists mainly of commemorative funeral inscriptions and military stones. Also some places' names and localities' names, such as Cazzago and Gussago, come from Roman courtesy.

The most valuable archaeological resource is the temple architrave (from Erbusco) that was brought to Brescia and then walled in the facade of the palace of Monte di Pietà della Loggia.

 

TotalWine.com

 

4 Franciacorta wines

Berlucchi Franciacorta Brut Cuvee Imperiale
750ml
Lombardy, Italy - Clean-cut and full-bodied with appealing, emphatic fruity notes and fine acidity. Rich, lingering, and complex. An ideal aperitif as well as with starters, and dishes based on fish, rice, pasta, white meats, full-flavored fish and fresh cheeses.
BRAND: Berlucchi
COUNTRY / STATE: Italy
REGION: Lombardy
WINE TYPE: Champagne & Sparkling Wine
VARIETAL: Sparkling Wine
STYLE: Elegant
TASTE: Apple, Pear, Spice
BODY: Medium-bodied
SKU: 82158750-1

Roscato Rosso Dolce
750ml
Lombardy, Italy- An irresistible, delicately sweet, gently fizzy red wine from the northern Italian region of Lombardy. Makes a wonderful aperitif and is also incredibly food-friendly.
BRAND: Roscato
COUNTRY / STATE: Italy
WINE TYPE: Champagne & Sparkling Wine
VARIETAL: Sparkling Red Wine
STYLE: Sweet
SKU: 120178750-1

Roscato Rosso Dolce
2-250ml can pack
Lombardy, Italy- An irresistible, delicately sweet, gently fizzy red wine from the northern Italian region of Lombardy. Makes a wonderful aperitif and is also incredibly food-friendly.
BRAND: Roscato
COUNTRY / STATE: Italy
WINE TYPE: Red Wine
VARIETAL: Red Blend
STYLE: Sweet
SKU: 120178266-2

Franciacorta Brut Rose
750ml
BRAND: Franciacorta
COUNTRY / STATE: Italy
WINE TYPE: Champagne & Sparkling Wine
VARIETAL: Sparkling Wine
SKU: 195500750-1

 

 

Franciacorta vineyard in Erbusco

 

Modern Viticulture

Despite boasting a long history, the new course of viticulture of Franciacorta began in all respects at the beginning of the Sixties with the birth of the first wineries. At the end of the Seventies, Italian enology experienced a period of great ferment and in Franciacorta several entrepreneurs invested and focused on the cultivation of vineyards. In fact, even today many wineries that produce Franciacorta have been founded by entrepreneurs from Brescia and province. Afterwards the growth has been very fast until today's Franciacorta fame, a national reference for the wine's production with the classic method.

The production and marketing of bubbles has become increasingly important in the last twenty years, so as to boast the DOCG brand and be known in the wine world for the high quality achieved. The name "Franciacorta" has over time become synonymous with the same DOCG sparkling wine produced in the many vineyards of the area.

Since July 2008, with the publication of the new specification, the name of the DOC "Terre di Franciacorta", used for red and white still wines, has been replaced with Curtefranca.

Today the area is just over two thousand hectares, its increase, which was considerable in the first decade of the 2000s, has now slowed sharply partly because of the global crisis. In fact, no further major growth developments are expected in the coming years. The slowdown is also due to some choices of the consortium Franciacorta aimed at not creating an excess of supply in order to safeguard the producers currently present on the territory.

In 1995 Franciacorta was assigned the first refermented in Italian bottle with the denomination DOCG. This is obtained from Chardonnay and/or Pinot Noir and/or Pinot Blanc grapes and is produced in three types: Franciacorta, Franciacorta Satèn and Franciacorta Rosé. In addition to these, Millesimato and Riserva, which require longer aging, are also produced. Franciacorta has also two other DOC denominations: a white wine and a red wine.

The wine cellars are over one hundred and some are located in buildings of artistic and architectural interest. They are open to the public, so the visitor can learn about the methods of wine production, participate in tastings and buy the product.

 

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Franciacorta DOCG

Franciacorta is a sparkling wine from the Province of Brescia (Lombardy) with DOCG status. It is produced using the traditional method from grapes grown within the boundaries of the territory of Franciacorta, on the hills located between the southern shore of Lake Iseo and the city of Brescia. It was awarded DOC status in 1967, the designation then also including red and white still wines. Since 1995 the DOCG classification has applied exclusively to the sparkling wines of the area.

History

The still wines from this area have ancient traditions, referred to by Virgil and Pliny the Elder, and documented in Brescia City council books as "Franzacurta" as far back as in 1277. The name may derive from the tax-exempt (francae) status of the region's towns (curtes) in the Middle Ages. The wines were not called Franciacorta until 1957, when Guido Berlucchi released a white wine named Pinot di Franciacorta. An ambitious young winemaker working for Berlucchi, Franco Ziliani, was permitted to pursue an ambition of producing a fine sparkling wine, and in 1961 was allowed to produce for release 3,000 bottles of a sparkling wine, also sold under the name Pinot di Franciacorta.

Instant interest allowed the following vintage production to be set at 20,000 bottles, and eventually the annual production was 100,000 bottles. The national prominence that followed was soon exploited by several entrepreneurs from Milan and Brescia, and by the time the region was granted DOC status in 1967 there were 11 producers of sparkling Franciacorta, although Berlucchi represented more than 80% of the production.

With its directives, Franciacorta became the first DOC to specify that its sparkling wines must be made by metodo classico. In 1990, the Consorzio per la tutela del Franciacorta was formed, instigating codes of self-regulation with a gradual reduction of yields and elimination of the use of Pinot grigio, becoming the body considered responsible for the efficient elevation of sparkling Franciacorta to DOCG status in 1995. Since August 1, 2003, Franciacorta has been the only Italian wine not obliged to declare its DOCG appellation on the label, in the same manner that a Champagne is permitted to exclude from labels its AOC.

From 1996 to 2006, sales of Franciacorta grew from 2.9 million to 6.7 million bottles. According to Tom Stevenson, the Franciacorta region is "the only compact wine area producing world class sparkling wine in Italy."

 

 

2 other wines from Lombardy

Roscato Moscato (Mantua)
750ml
Lugana, Italy - Roscato Moscato is an irresistible, delicately sweet, frizzante wine from Northern Italy. With a touch of sparkle to flawlessly balance the sweetness, Roscato Moscato is the ideal complement for today's cuisine. Enjoy it with delicate cheeses, fresh fruit or spicy food.
BRAND: Roscato
COUNTRY / STATE: Italy
REGION: Lombardy
APPELLATION: Lugana
WINE TYPE: Champagne & Sparkling Wine
VARIETAL: Muscat/Moscato
SKU: 225728750-1

InVino Pinot Noir (Pavia)
750ml
Italy - InVino Pinot Noir is an elegant and light bodied red wine. Flavors and aromas include black cherry, black fruit, currant, wild cherries and dark berry. InVino Pinot Noir pairs well with salmon, roasted chicken or pasta dishes. Enjoy with a group of friends or by yourself!
BRAND: InVino
COUNTRY / STATE: Italy
REGION: Lombardy
WINE TYPE: Red Wine
VARIETAL: Pinot Noir
STYLE: Elegant
ABV: 12%
TASTE: Black Cherry, Currant, Fruity
SKU: 219439750-1

 

 

1 famous "honorary Lombard" wine from Novara, Piemonte

[an area which has historically & linguistically been a part of Lombardia; although the winery is located in Novara, it is long associated with Milan]

Campari
50ml
Italy- The shockingly red liqueur is infused with 68 different bitter herbs and aromatic plants, a secret recipe of natural ingredients that dates back to 1860 and has become an Italian tradition.
BRAND: Campari
COUNTRY: Italy
SPIRITS TYPE: Dessert & Fortified Wine
SPIRITS STYLE: Aperitif
SKU: 226725050-1

 

 

Vineyards in Valtellina

In Valtellina, wines are produced mainly from Chiavennasca (the local name of Nebbiolo grape variety) with other minor varieties such as Rossola nera permitted up to 20% for the Denominazione di origine controllata (DOC) and 10% for the Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG). Grapes are limited to a harvest yield of 12 tonnes/ha. The finished wine must be aged for at least 2 years prior to release (3 years if a Riserva bottling) with a minimum alcohol level of at least 11%. Yields for the DOCG wines are further restricted to a maximum of 8 tonnes/ha. While the aging requirements are the same as the DOC, the minimum alcohol level for the DOCG wine is 12%.

The best-known villages for red wines are: Grumello, Sassella, Inferno, Valgella, and Maroggia. The village names are normally indicated on the label. Additionally there is an Amarone style DOCG wine called Sforzato (Sfursat).

 

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Valtellinese wines, such as Il Pettirosso Valtellina Superiore 2016, are easy to purchase online. Total Wine & More stores are all over the country, so I thought that was more noteworthy that you could just walk in and purchase a Franciacorta if one was nearby. I found one Valtellina winery--Bagera Vini di Valtellina--which as a U.S. website: www.ViniBagera.us and facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/BalgeraViniDiValtellina/

 


Final thoughts

Of course there are some wineries right here locally which are still in the hands of the same old Swiss Italian/Ticinese families, such as the Nichelini Winery in St. Helena, California founded in 1890. They now have a Wikipedia page as well: Nichelini Family Winery. If you're never visited there, make sure that you do! That incredible home that sits above a stone mason cellar was constructed by Anton Nichelini 130 years ago, and it's beautiful as well as the property that sits along the edge of the wooded valley.

Another interesting winery is Raffaldini Vineyards in Ronda, North Carolina. Founded by Jay Raffaldini whose family roots are in Mantua (Mantova). According to the website: "In 2009 Raffaldini Vineyards was voted one of the top ten new vineyards in all of North America, the first time any such vineyard from the Mid Atlantic received that award." The winery hosts a Festa Italiana every fall season. Of course, these wines can be ordered online.

The beautiful Nichelini house in St. Helena

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The "Trident" story - what does the Beretta logo mean?

'The "Trident" story - what does the Beretta logo mean?'

Matteo Recanatini - Beretta Blog - October 12, 2011

One day, we were sitting around the large desk of one of our conference rooms, discussing over and unders and the staggering heritage that links these guns to the five centuries of Beretta history.

At one point, Angela pointed out that most people recognize the Beretta logo: the iconic three arrows and circles often referred to as "Trident," but that most people don't really know why and how Beretta's logo came to be.

On our Facebook and Twitter accounts, we have mentioned it, in the past, and have answered questions about just this, but I thought it wise to publish a quick post about our most recognizable graphic.

Like all respectable 500-year old companies, Beretta has had its share of logos: the shield with the letters "PB" (for Pietro Beretta, the father of the industrialized Beretta,) the duck with open wings, and the more simple "Fabbrica d'Armi Pietro Beretta" are some of the representations that many of our readers will recognize.

And then, there's the "Trident," which (truth be told) is not a trident at all.

The story of this logo starts not far from Gardone Val Trompia, in the small town of Cargnacco, where poet, writer, director, mariner and journalist Gabriele d'Annunzio ended his days, in the late 1930s.

When you walk into the villa that Gabriele d'Annunzio purchased and where he retired, you will find the very first "Trident." It was he who, ever-the-artist, developed this graphic design to symbolize the will to get things done. The encircled arrows represent the three shots fired by a battleship that engages a potential enemy: the arrow on the left reprents the first warning shot, fired at the ship's stern; the arrow on the right represents the second warning shot, fired at the ship's bow. The central arrow is the last round fired, when the ship doesn't yield: this one is aimed at the ship itself. The logo was dubbed "Dare In Brocca" or "hit the target."

Mr. Beretta was fascinated with this symbol, and asked Gabriele d'Annunzio if he could "borrow it." Gabriele d'Annunzio gave Mr. Beretta the rights to use it as the company's symbol, and from that moment, the "Trident" became the company's logo.

So, now you know it. Next time you're wearing a hat like this one, or carry your Beretta firearm to the range or on the field, make sure you share this story with your fellow shooters!


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'Beretta’s “Trident” logo explained'
 

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BerettaUSA.com
 
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Lake Garda featured now in Windows 10 Spotlight 2

Lombardy: The Italian Lake District

Along with the image of Lake Garda now being featured, there is a link to a Bing image search for "Italian Lake District." This region is mostly in Lombardy and the culturally Lombard Ticino in Switzerland.

Italy's Lake District

[https://www.smithsonianjourneys.org]

A One-Week Stay in Stresa Featuring Lake Maggiore, Lake Como, and Lake Orta

9 days from $4,590

Italy’s breathtaking Lake District has inspired painters, writers, and poets. Immerse yourself in this lovely region during a one-week stay in Stresa at the Hotel La Palma, featuring views of Lake Maggiore and Alpine mountains.

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Lake Garda featured now in Windows 10 Spotlight

 Windsurfers on Lake Garda, Italy

Italy’s largest lake is so big and comparatively narrow that it creates its own unique wind patterns, drawing windsurfers from around the world. From its north shore, surrounded by mountains, Lake Garda stretches for 32 miles to the south where it reaches a wide plain. The change in topography means different temperatures at either end of the lake, resulting in powerful thermal winds. In the morning, winds form high in the mountains and flow toward the plain at the southern portion of the lake. Later in the day the patterns shift, and winds blow north back up the lake. These various air streams are so regular, and so renowned, they have their own names. And they have some dedicated fans, too, judging by these windsurfers.

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"Winged Victory" of Ancient Brixia

"Brescia the heavy,
"Brescia the strong,
"Brescia Lion of Italy"

-- Poet Giosuè Carducci,

Alcaic ode to Brescia’s

Winged Victory

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Found in 1826 near the Capitoline Temple of Roman Brixia, the bronze statue originally portrayed Venus looking at her reflection on Ares’s shield
'The Winged Victory in Brescia: from Venus to Nike'
 

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The beautiful Valseriana of the Bergamo Alps

GROMO Alta Valle Seriana

Frank Giava

Una cittadina medievale bellissima. Video riprese di Frank Giava con Drone DJI Phantom 4 PRO+. Visitate il sito web www.bergamoinvolo.it oppure andate alla pagina facebook 
https://www.facebook.com/bergamoinvolo/?ref=bookmarks
  

Valseriana images

Val Seriana (translated)

The Val seriana (àl seriàna in the Bergamasque dialect) is the Valley of the Serio River, in the Province of Bergamo, in the Orobie Alps. It winds along the river path for about 31 miles, going up from the capital in a north-east direction. The valley floor is largely urbanized, constituting a continuous building, residential and productive that goes from Bergamo to the High valley.

Valseriana.eu

Mountain community of the Seriana Valley (translated)

The Mountain community of the Seriana Valley is a mountain community in the province of Bergamo , Lombardy. Includes 38 municipalities in the Seriana Valley.

Mountain Community of Valseriana (official website)

ValserianaNews.it

Friends of the Valseriana

Valcamonica and Valseriana

The Valseriana makes up roughly half of the territory of the Orobie Alps, also known as the Bergamo Alps. It runs parallel to the Val Camonica to its east, and is 31 miles long... as opposed to the 56 mile long Val Camonica. However, it's not as pronounced of a valley, and has nowhere near the same population. Still, it seems to have equally the same natural beauty.

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'Valley of Lights: Val Trompia, in the Province of Brescia'

 
'Valley of Lights: Val Trompia, in the Province of Brescia'

Jerry Finzi - Grand Voyage Italy - March 19, 2017

The Trompia Valley is one of three main valleys in the province of Brescia in the Lombardy region with the Mella River winding through the territory for more than 20 miles. The presence of a large amount of raw materials, such as iron, made mining such a large part of this region's industry and success ever since Roman times... in fact, the Valtrompia was a center for weapons production throughout history.

The valley lies at the foot of the Brescia Alps and extends from the first mountain peaks to the north, to the lands of the Po Valley to the south. The valley can be explored along 70 miles of roads along with all levels of hiking and biking trails. There are also many other extreme sports available... mountain climbing, mountain-boarding, skiing and snow-boarding.

There are also many sagre, fairs and festivals which take place throughout the year showcasing the most typical dishes of the local cuisine.  Falling in between two of the most beautiful Italian lakes--Lake Iseo and Lake Garda--makes the region a fantastic destination for an extended stay in any season of the year.

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On-topic TV lineup

'Strange Evidence' (Tuesdays; Science Channel; 284 on DirecTV)
Presents and attempts to explain strange video footage. Most of the time they are able to explain the presented phenomena... often of some of YouTube's paranormal favorites.

'The Dead Files' (Fridays, Travel Channel; 277 on DireTV)
The paranormal favorite is currently airing new episodes.

'Ancient Aliens' (Fridays; History Channel; 269 on DirecTV)
All new season.

'In Search Of' (Fridays; History Channel; 269 on DirecTV)
The third incarnation of the Leonard Nimoy narrated, late 70s/early 80s, grand daddy of them all when it comes to paranormal/mystery documentaries.

'Ghost Adventures' (Saturdays; Travel Channel; 277 on DirecTV)
New episodes.

'These Woods Are Haunted' (Sundays; Travel Channel; 277 on DirecTV)
Strange true encounters in the woods.


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'Better Call Saul' (Season 4; Aug. 6; Mondays; AMC Channel; 254 on DirecTV)
This program, just like 'Breaking Bad', is like a modern day wild west scenario.... set in New Mexico. Despite modern scenery, cell phones, suites and ties, and such; it's basically about southwest outlaws, and will become more so as the series progresses.

The intelligent and beautiful Rhea Seahorn aka "Kim Wexler"

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I saw one of these the other day in San Francisco; a Porche 911 Carrera classic. They were in production from 1964 to 1989. They look so 60s European, which is probably why they discontinued it at a certain point. In person it really catches your eye. The one I saw was in perfect condition, marvelous dark grey. Nearby where I live in Brisbane is an interesting company called Star City Motors, which is an independent automotive dealer who apparently can hook a customer up with anything.

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Arnold of Brescia: Martyr of the Reformation

Arnold of Brescia

WikiAudio

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Arnold of Brescia

Arnold of Brescia (c. 1090 – June 1155), also known as Arnaldus (Italian: Arnaldo da Brescia), was an Italian canon regular from Lombardy. He called on the Church to renounce property ownership and participated in the failed Commune of Rome.

Exiled at least three times and eventually arrested, Arnold was hanged by the papacy, then was burned posthumously and (his ashes) thrown into the River Tiber. Though he failed as a religious reformer and a political leader, his teachings on apostolic poverty gained currency after his death among "Arnoldists" and more widely among Waldensians and the Spiritual Franciscans, though no written word of his has survived the official condemnation. Protestants rank him among the precursors of the Reformation.

Biography

Born in Brescia, Arnold became an Augustinian canon and then prior of a monastery in Brescia. He criticized the Catholic Church's temporal powers that involved it in a land struggle in Brescia against the Count-Bishop of Brescia. He called on the Church to renounce its claim and return ownership to the city government so as not to be tainted by possession—renunciation of worldliness being one of his primary teachings. He was condemned at the Second Lateran Council in 1139 and forced from Italy.

According to the chronicler Otto of Freising, Arnold had studied in Paris under the tutelage of the reformer and philosopher Pierre Abélard. He took to Abélard's philosophy of reform ways. The issue came before the Synod of Sens in 1141 and both Arnold and Abélard's positions were overruled by Bernard of Clairvaux. Arnold stood alone against the church's decision after Abélard's capitulation; he returned to Paris, where he continued to teach and preach against Bernard. As a consequence he was then commanded to silence and exiled by Pope Innocent II. He took refuge first in Zurich then probably in Bavaria. His writings were also condemned to be burned as a further measure, though the condemnation is the only evidence that he had actually written anything. Arnold continued to preach his radical ideas concerning apostolic poverty.

Arnold, who is known only from the vituperative condemnation of his foes, was declared to be a demagogue; his motives were impugned.Having returned to Italy after 1143, Arnold made his peace in 1145 with Pope Eugene III, who ordered him to submit himself to the mercy of the Church in Rome. When he arrived, he found that Giordano Pierleoni's followers had asserted the ancient rights of the commune of Rome, taken control of the city from papal forces, and founded a republic, the Commune of Rome. Arnold sided with the people immediately and, after Pierleoni's deposition, soon rose to the intellectual leadership of the Commune, calling for liberties and democratic rights. Arnold taught that clergy who owned property had no power to perform the Sacraments. He succeeded in driving Pope Eugene into exile in 1146, for which he was excommunicated on 15 July 1148. When Pope Eugene returned to the city in 1148, Arnold continued to lead the blossoming republic despite his excommunication. In summing up these events, Caesar Baronius called Arnold "the father of political heresies", while Edward Gibbon later expressed his view that "the trumpet of Roman liberty was first sounded by Arnold."

After Pope Eugene's death, Pope Adrian IV swiftly took steps to regain control of Rome. He allied with Frederick Barbarossa, who took Rome by force in 1155 after a Holy Week interdict and forced Arnold again into exile. Arnold was seized by Imperial forces and tried by the Roman Curia as a rebel. Importantly, he was never accused of heresy. Faced with the stake, he refused to recant any of his positions. Convicted of rebellion, Arnold was hanged in June and his body burnt. Because he remained a hero to large sections of the Roman people and the minor clergy, his ashes were cast into the Tiber, to prevent his burial place becoming venerated as the shrine of a martyr.

In 1882, after the collapse of Papal temporal powers, the city of Brescia erected a monument to its native son.

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San Pellegrino Terme and "La Bella Pellegrina": The Vehmic Connection

San Pellegrino water is no stranger to the American and world market. San Pellegrino Terme, at the foot of the Bergamo Alps, has been the source for this Alpine mineral water for over 600 years. It's logo is a red or black star, usually mixed, with white added in a multi-outlined design. Many companies and institutions use a star design, and maybe that's all there is to this. However, I think that there is at least a tinge of doubt.

San Pellegrino mineral water has been produced for over 600 years. In 1395, the town borders of Mathusanash Pellegrino were drawn, marking the start of its water industry. Leonardo da Vinci is said to have visited the town in 1509 to sample and examine the town's "miraculous" water, later writing a treatise on the subject. Analysis shows that the water is strikingly similar to the samples taken in 1782, the first year such analysis took place.

So lets consider three aspects of San Pellegrino. First, the name "San Pellegrino" means "Saint Pilgrim." Second, both a black star and a multi-outlined star at least suggest what we know in America as the common barnstar or welcome star. This star is of European, mostly German/Dutch origin. It is most common here in German-American rural, agricultural, and farming communities in Pennsylvania. According to Guido von List, this particular contoured star--apparently traditionally black--was common in rural inns and road stops in German speaking countries.

The barnstar is the modern expression, maybe since the Middle Ages, of the Vehmic spiritual tradition of Europe going back into very ancient times. It has the same meaning as the Pentagram in Wicca, which is based partly upon the same very old tradition. Third, this mineral water was considered magical. Whether or not that is mere folklore, we can see a possible pattern: magical water, Vehmic star, and the name "San Pellegrino" which I will explain.

The name "San Pellegrino Terme" means something like "Saint Pilgrim spa," which may have something to do with the water. The commune is home to the "Terme".. or "baths." There is also the Brembo River, so this may all have something to do with the legend of the "miraculous water." According to legend, Aradia, "La Bella Pellegrina" (The Beautiful Pilgrim) herself, was to have visited Lombardy after the upheaval surrounding her in Tuscany. She was also alleged to have moved onto the Balkans at a later point, perhaps to evade the coming persecution.

Aradia as rugged medieval traveler?

So we have three clues--albeit not ironclad clues--but three pieces of soft evidence pointing to a link between Aradia and San Pellegrino Terme. Okay, the odds would point more against it, but it's something to ponder if you have interest in "the old religion." Did "the beautiful pilgrim" of legend make a pilgrimage to what is today San Pellegrino Terme? If she did visit or settle there, it would have been roughly fifty years before the commune apparently got its name. Could Aradia have settled there after she "got out've Dodge," and continued her life's mission in secret?

If one links all of the circumstances, I think it paints an alluring possibility, partly because it's all old circumstantial evidence. The Bergamo Alps is a large wild mountainous area, where Aradia, and presumably her followers, could hide out if need be. San Pellegrino Terme is in the southern stretches of the Bergamo Alps; yet close to the Po Valley and the city of Bergamo. Also, this location was on the edge of the east Lombard Alps, where there had been a strong pagan tradition. There were plenty of secluded mountain valleys in which to dwell, and where the old ways were not out of place. Were there further wanderings and history of Aradia lost in time?

A few Papal and Venetian state authorities seemed to suggest that there was an upsurge in "Witchcraft" in the east Lombard Alps during the late fifteenth century: "For this reason we cannot but think that there is an evil sect in this diabolical valley." This wouldn't have been much more than a century after Aradia could have visited the region. These authorities finally took action, and witch trials soon took place in both Val Camonica and the Valtellina. As to whether or not there was a real upsurge, or if it was merely the old regional tradition, their reasoning was all the pretext that they needed. Could it have really been a resurgence of the old ways, which was introduced by Aradia, that resulted in a growing synergistic movement in these isolated mountain valleys?


And onto... Serbia?

Excerpt from page 224 of 'Hereditary Witchcraft: Secrets of the Old Religion' by Raven Grimassi:

I found it also interesting to note that 'Ecstasies: Deciphering the Witches' Sabbath' by Carlo Ginzburg contains a passage that may be a historical reference to Aradia. On page 189 he speaks of a Pagan sect known as the Calusari, who, during the Middle Ages (as late as the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries), worshipped a "Mythical Empress" whom they sometimes called "Arada" or Irodeasa." The Calusari also used the term "mistress of the fairies" for her, just as the followers of Aradia called Diana the "Queen of the Fairies." There are certainly some very close similarities here, and we may be seeing a form of worship that evolved from the one Aradia founded over 100 years earlier.

According to the original legend of Aradia, she left Italy at some point in her quest and traveled out of the country. Serbia, the home of the Calusari, lies a short distance across the Adriatic from Central Italy, and travel by ship was not uncommon in that era. When Aradia left Italy she would not have traveled west to France because the Papacy was established there at the time, and Aradia was still being hunted by the Church. It would have been too dangerous to have gone to northern Europe because witches were being burned or hanged in that region (Italy did not begin the burning of witches until after the time of Aradia). So, in fact, an eastern exodus would have been the only logical action that Aradia could have taken. At the very least, there is a striking coincidence between Aradia's Witches and the Calusari of Arada.

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