Next Stop: Italy - One of the Most Prominent Cultural Cradles in the World

In its present form, Italy has its roots not far in time. That is, the "boot" and "ball" that may have come to mind now date from March 17, 1861, when the country took the form of a unitary state - a process that had substantial support from France and France. England.

However, you don't have to go more than a few blocks from the capital, Rome, to realize that Italian DNA is much older than the stereotypes of TV shows or the beloved (or hated) Azurra, the Italian National Team. of football.

As you walk through the ruins of the Coliseum, as you contemplate the beautiful - and very rich - architecture of St. Peter's Basilica, your origins in ancient Rome become clear, in the fragmented states that eventually served as an incubator for one of the political and cultural movements of Rome. most distinct echo in human history.

Thus, traveling through Italy is as much a sensory adventure as a cultural journey of a unique size. And it is worth observing all this a little more closely, of course.

The Dominators of the Italic Peninsula

They say Rome was founded by two particularly lucky guys. It is said that the mythical twin brothers Romulus and Remus could only lay the foundation stone of Roman civilization - whose traditionally accepted date is April 21, 753 a. C. - Because a particularly lavish wolf decided to nurse them.

Be that as it may, it is a fact that that civilization arising from small farming communities occupied not only the Italian peninsula of the eighth century a. C, but it even took over a huge part of the ancient world. At its most territorially prosperous stage, under the baton of King Trajan, the Roman Empire came to encompass an area of over 5 million square kilometers.

And the embers of that triumphant period can still be seen today. “The enduring Roman influence is diffusely reflected in language, literature, legal codes, governments, architecture, engineering, medicine, sports, the arts, among many other aspects of contemporary life. Much of this is so intricate to our culture that we are barely aware of our debt to ancient Rome, ”according to National Geographic's article“ The World According to Rome ”.

The human at the center of the cosmos

It is practically impossible to think about the cultural legacy of Rome and, consequently, of Italy without bringing to mind the period of cultural effervescence known as the 'Renaissance'. However, although Michelangelo's David and Leonardo da Vinci's “Vitruvian Man” occupy much of the common sense imagination today, it is common for the animus that motivated the historical period to be, at least in part, neglected.

Renaissance is understood to be the period between the late 14th and early 17th centuries, all oriented to humanism and naturalism. In other words, although religion was still a constant, there is a systematic rescue of the values and arts practiced many centuries earlier by another particularly culturally prolific civilization: Ancient Greece.

In the hands of prominent artists at the time, the human being is portrayed in a privileged position whenever one seeks to represent nature. Moreover, it is a process of “mathematization” of natural processes - which of course also extends to politics and to the most varied forms of artistic expression.

The Cradle of the Catholic Church

Syncretism in Italy is remarkable, as are the successive dialectical movements that brought the populations of the Italian peninsula to divinity and thence to the human as a privileged and rational creature. A test? In addition to being the birthplace of the Renaissance, Italy is also notorious for carrying its own image of the Catholic Church - both in its assumed form during the Middle Ages and in the present.

With over 2, 000 years of history, the Roman Apostolic Catholic Church is considered the oldest institution still in operation - having carried the very image of theocentric political power during the Middle Ages. The impact of the Catholic Church on the sacred arts also has unquestionable weight.

Formal (and informal) economics

After World War II, Italy quickly moved from a predominantly agricultural state to one of the largest economies in the world. Despite the crisis scenarios that have unfolded in recent years - in response to the historic moment of the European Union itself - Italy is today the eighth highest quality country in the world, ranking 23rd in the Human Development Index (HDI).

In terms of products, Italy is well known for its automobiles, its appliances and, of course, also for its wine - currently the world's largest producer of the beverage. Also noteworthy is design and fashion - although, as Neapolitan journalist Roberto Saviano has shown, much of this business is still occupied by mafia organizations, particularly Camorra.

The ball"

Sicily would certainly deserve a separate article. Although it is part of the Italian Republic, the "Ball" under the "Boot" has notably its own geographical and cultural characteristics. A typical example? The tongue. Although Italian is the official language of the island, most natives also speak "Sicilian".

But Sicily is also an increasingly popular tourist paradise. There are numerous archaeological sites that readily reveal thousands of years of history - Taormina and Cafalù, for example. In addition, wandering the ancient streets of small communes (such as Troina) leaves a very lasting impression.