L'isola che non c'è

Never Never Land

Second star to the right
this is the way
and then straight on ‘til morning
then you’ll find the road by yourself
that leads to Never Never Land.

Perhaps this will seem strange to you
But you’re thinking with your head and not your heart.
and now you’re almost convinced that
there can’t be a Never Never Land.

And to think,
that insanity is a fable,
it’s just fantasy
and the wise ones, the older ones,
know it can’t exist in reality!

I agree with you
there is no land
where there are neither saints nor heroes
and if there are no theives
if there’s never war
perhaps it really is
never never land, never never land

it is not an invention
not even a pun
if you believe in it that’s enough because
then you’ll find the road by yourself

I agree with you,
no thieves nor policemen
what kind of land is it?
no hatred and violence
no soldiers nor weapons
perhaps it really is
never never land, never never land

Second star to the right
this is the way
and then straight on ‘til morning
then you’ll find the road by yourself
that leads to Never Never Land.

and they make fun of you
if you keep on looking for it
but do not give up, because
those who have already given up
and laugh behind your back
perhaps are even crazier than you.

Song translation by Vinti Giovanni Samuele, IV Bsp

The secret to success

The history of Italian fashion is crossed with economic history- dress has always been understood as an expression of social success. Cinema is influenced by fashion. Dress took this role because it was a talisman in ancient tales. It is the magic ingredient that allows transformation. In short, the story is narrated as Italian fashion because its function is profoundly different from Paris and other cities for us. Fashion is an instrument of social redemption and thus a rise in class through one’s clothing. Fashion is a tool to confirm status.

Racinello, Salvatore, IV Bsp

An uncertain term

The term mafia has an uncertain etymology. In 1863 the popular dialect play “The mafioso of the vicarie” was written by Giacomo Rizzotto. However, the current term only came into use in the nineteenth century. The phenomenon of the mafia was established in Sicilia, consisting of armed squads who fought against political groups to radically change and subvert the state. Outwardly the mafia is organised in “cosche” (clans) with a well established hierarchy. The cosche are groups directed by one authoratative person to whose orders the twelve members act. The allied cosche and rivals intend to achieve prestige and profit, maintaining their place as leaders of the territory.

Modica Lorenzo, IV Bsp

Gocce di Memoria - Giorgia

My favourite song is “drops of memory” by Giorgia. This song has a special significance because it seeks to express the meaning of love in all the smallest details. It stirs emotions deep inside me. It reminds me of the best things of my past, and at the same time gives me the strength and the desire to live life with enthusiasm.

Salvatore Racinello, IV BSP

Click here for Giorgia's official music video or below to listen to the song.

Mignolata

A delicious recipe by Maurizio Fiore, IV BSP

A dish from Agrigento, Mignolata is as a popular alternative to pizzette (mini pizzas), with a crisp pastry and a tasty Mediterranean filling.

Ingredients for the dough:
1kg flour
30g brewer’s yeast
Tepid water
2 tablespoons of olive oil

Ingredients for the filling:
800g pork mince
5 onions, finely chopped
200g black olives, diced
Salt & pepper

1. Put the flour and brewer’s yeast into a mixing bowl. Gradually add tepid water, mixing at the same time until you have a soft dough.
2. Add two spoons of olive oil and mix.
3. Leave to rest for 15 minutes.
4. For each mignolata take around 150g of dough and roll it into a circular sheet with a rolling pin.
5. Add a little pork mince, onion and black olives, no more than you would add to a normal pizza.
   
6. Season with salt and pepper.
7. Roll up the mignolata.
8. Cut into small sections, shape into rounded buns and place on a baking tray.
   
9. Put into the oven at 220° for 30 minutes.

La sagra del mandorlo in fiore

The Festival of the Almond Tree in Flower happens in Agrigento in the first week of February to celebrate the start of spring with the flowering of the almond tree, shared by folk groups from all over the world. The festival was born in 1934 in Naro, a city in the province of Agrigento next to the chief town. It was born with the intent to publicize typical products of Sicily, framed by the anticipation of spring and the almond tree in bloom. In 1937 the feast definitively moved to Agrigento and took the official name of The Festival of the Almond Tree in Flower. At this point it starts to develop with the addition of folk groups and some tourists.

But in 1940 the festival was suspended because of the outbreak of the Second World War up until 1948. From 1948 onwards it has had richer and richer demonstrations, and even if it was characterized by the calamitous event of a landslide in 1966 and changes in management, it has always maintained its cultural meaning of peace among all the people of earth. The most meaningful moment of the festival has always been the lighting of the torch of friendship in front of the Temple of Harmony, following a very evocative walk towards the sunset in the Valley of the Temples. The following Sunday the great parade of all the folk groups happens with Sicilian wheelbarrows and musical groups in the city of the Valley of the Temples, with the final show at the Temple of Hercules and the awarding of the best group with the ‘Gold Temple’.

By Claudio Castronovo

A song I love

Il Mondo Che Vorrei
The World I’d Like by Vasco Rossi

And it’s exactly the impossible that I’d like
Ed è proprio quello che non si potrebbe che vorrei
And it’s always what you can’t do that I’d do
ed è sempre quello che non si farebbe che farei
And it’s like what you can’t say that I’d say
ed è come quello che non si direbbe che direi
When I say that it’s not the world that I’d like.
quando dico che non è così il mondo che vorrei

You can’t
Non si può
Fly over the mountains
sorvolare le montagne
You can’t go
non puoi andare
Where you’d like to go
dove vorresti andare.
You know what’s there
Sai cosa c'è
Everything stays here.
ogni cosa resta qui.
Here you can only cry
Qui si può solo piangere...
And in the end you can’t even cry anymore.
...e alla fine non si piange neanche più.

And it’s when I get there that I’d already return
Ed è proprio quando arrivo li che già ritornerei
And every time I’m here that I’d go back again
ed è sempre quando sono qui che io ripartirei
And it’s like what’s not there that I’d miss
ed è come quello che non c'è che io rimpiangerei
When I think that this is not the world I’d like.
quando penso che non è così il mondo che vorrei.

You can’t
Non si può
Do what you want
fare quello che si vuole
You can’t push down only on the accelerator
non si può spingere solo l'acceleratore.
Look around a bit
Guarda un pò
You must content yourself with what you’ve got
ci si deve accontentare.
Here you can only lose...
Qui si può solo perdere...
And in the end you can’t even lose anymore.
....e alla fine non si perde neanche più.

A translation by Alessio Lotta, IV B