Erasmus+ Project “From Intangible Expression to Digital Cultural Heritage”

Italy-Bulgaria-Italy

ANOTHER SMALL UNIVERSE IN THE UNIVERSE

AIELLI

Aielli…a universe that enables you to have a journey between the world and the art. As the partners of the Erasmus+ Project “From Intangible Expression to Digital Cultural Heritage” which started on the 3rd of March in 2022 gave us the opportunity to see this impressive universe on the first meeting of the Project in Italy on 27th of October. What makes this small town so attractive? What does it hide for us inside?

Aielli is a comune town in the Province of L’Aquila in the Abruzzo Region of Italy and located in the Velino –Sirente Regional Park. It is one of the highest settlements of the Fucino plain in Marsica. The village stands on a rocky ledge and this location has made it an ideal place for defense and observation throughout history.

Aielli is known for the presence of a medieval tower inside which there is an important astronomical observatory. It dates back to the 1300s. The tower is called “Torre dele Stelle” which means “The Tower of the Stars” and located in an ideal position for an astronomical observatory. It also houses the sky museum and the scientific library with more than 500 scientific volumes. It has a planetarium capable of projecting 3,000 stars. Its strategic position made it possible to see the other towers defending the Fucino and ensured rapid communication in the event of an alarm.

                                                Observatory Tower (Torre Dele Stelle)

Aielli is also like an open-air museum. It has several masterpieces (murals) of modern art on the buildings of the old village which have been created by several international artists. So, the city seems to have focused heavily on street art. From the entrance of the village to the end it is possible to search the town like having involved in an orienteering sport game, just look at the map and find another masterpiece while fully enjoying the roads,houses and the unique view of the village. All these paintings have different meanings and symbols in itself. 

In virtue of one of this masterpieces one can see this village as a kind of literary destination. It seems a place where someone can read a whole novel on a wall, Fontamara. It was written by the Italian writer Ignazio Silone. He tells about the life of  poor villagers living especially in the south of Italy. Andrea Parente completed this work, Fontamara writings on the wall, in 2018 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the death of writer Silone. It is one of the most impressive work on the walls of this village.Another example of these murals is Gemini. It is a work by Giovanni Anastasia made in 2019. It is the symbol of duality.  After the earthquake of 1915 Aielli was divided. So the upside down figure at the top on the wall represents the ancient Aielli while the male figure represents the new Aielli Station. Illuminary Palace is the another impressive wall painting. Okuda San Miguel completed this masterpiece. The themes of this work focus on complexity, existence, infinity,the universe, the conflicts of modern life and capitalism that unquestionably reduces our freedom. Le Bis,it was completed in 2019 with the collaboration between Valeria Lozzi and Enonvela. The three women symbolises the energy exchange with the universe and generation of light and life. Another example is called Cosmic Tree.This was completed by Alberto Cicerone and is a symbol of the intersection of the 3 cosmic regions; heaven,earth and the underworld.

                  
                                                                           GEMINI