SPOLETO

On Sunday 10 July we took the Regionale train from the new Tiburtina train station just below Piazza Bologna to Spoleto about an 85 minute ride. Spoleto for the last 54 years has been the summer venue of the Festival of the two worlds. First started by Gian Carlo Menotti it is now run by a new group of people. The Festival is also no longer linked with Charleston, N.C.

We went to see a dance tribute to our friend Professore Alberto Testa, entitled ''Il valore de una vita''. He is a well known choreographer, former dancer, a man involved with all the great Italian movie producers like Luchino Visconti, Vittorio de Sica, Federico Fellini. A coincidence it was also on Sunday that another great choreographer, Roland Petit, died.

Testa mentioned Petit in his tribute, it was a very well done multimedia presentation with great classical dancing meant to tell the life of Testa. One dancer caught the attention of the public, Aran Bell, 11 years old who lives in Naples and takes the train each day to Rome to attend ballet school with choreographer Denys Ganio. Spoleto is a beautiful small town with great history, this is where Hannibal and his elephants marching on Rome were stopped. The city has been carefully restored since 1959. This little Sunday excursion was a nice way to say farewell to Italy.

Unfortunately we did not have time for a meal, Spoleto has several good restaurants and truffles are a culinary specialty. We will have to come back sometime in the future.

Professore Alberto Testa at the Teatro Nuovo, Spoleto, Sunday 10 July 2011