Practice Italian with excerpts from "Travel to Bergamo" in
Italian, followed by the English translation.
In Italiano:
Bergamo è città antichissima. Sono state trovate tracce di
un insediamento d'età protostorica, tra il sesto e il
quinto secolo avanti Cristo, e si deve a questi primi
abitanti la caratteristica principale della città: metà
sul colle e metà in piano. A chi arriva dalla pianura è
proprio la città sul colle (la radice berg vuol dire
monte) che compare per prima in lontananza: un'immagine
che affascinò i grandi viaggiatori del passato, come
Stendhal, e che ancora richiama l'attenzione di chi
transita lungo l'autostrada che collega Milano a Venezia.
Bergamo si annuncia all'improvviso, con la fantastica
sequenza di torri, campanili e cupole contro il verde
intenso delle Alpi.
Sul margine estremo della grande pianura padana, Bergamo
rivela veramente la propria più genuina caratteristica
solo a chi, attraversato il centro moderno, felicemente
modellato tenendo d'occhio il profilo della città antica,
sale sul colle e si avventura nell'intrico medievale di
viuzze. All'improvviso come un'esplosione di luce, ed
eccoci in Piazza Vecchia, considerata una delle più belle
piazze d'Italia. Se ne innamorarono Bernard Berenson e
grandi architetti come Le Corbusier e Wright. Berenson vi
approdò seguendo nelle valli bergamasche la traccia di
artisti veneti, che portarono fin lassù le luminosità
della laguna. Fu un rapporto strettissimo quello che legò
Bergamo a Venezia: per quasi quattro secoli Bergamo
condivise storia, arte e cultura della Repubblica.
Quando Venezia decise di dare inizio nel 1561 alla
costruzione delle mura stava attraversando un periodo di
gravi tensioni con la Spagna, che governava anche sullo
Stato di Milano. Fu un obiettivo più politico che
strategico, in quanto la poderosa fortezza di Bergamo
doveva manifestare le chiare intenzioni della Repubblica
di difendersi strenuamente contro eventuali mire
espansionistiche degli spagnoli, ma al tempo stesso
rassicurandoli perché nei cinque chilometri di circuito
dei bastioni non poteva essere accolto un esercito così
numeroso da compiere un'offensiva. Le mura sono molto ben
conservate ed offrono, assieme alle quattro porte che si
aprono sui quattro lati della città antica, una delle più
importanti testimonianze di cinta bastionata del
Cinquecento.
Oggi lungo il grandioso anello di pietra si snoda una
passeggiata con continui scorci panoramici sulla città
moderna, sulla pianura e sulla montagna.
In English:
Bergamo is a very old city. Traces of a protohistoric
settlement, from between the sixth and the fifth century
B.C., have been found. The first inhabitants established
the main characteristic of the city: half on the hill and
half on flat land. To those who arrive from the plain,
Bergamo appears first from a distance as a city on a hill
(the root word berg means mountain). This image first
fascinated the great travelers of the past, like Stendhal,
and today the same image draws the attention of people
driving on the Milan-Venice highway. Bergamo appears
suddenly, with its sequence of towers, bell towers and
domes, against the intense green color of the Alps.
Located on the extreme edge of the Po Plain, Bergamo
reveals its own true and genuine characteristics to those
who climb up the hill and visit the tangled medieval
little streets after crossing the modern center of the
city. PiazzaVecchia appears, like an unexpected explosion
of light. This Piazza is considered one of the most
beautiful squares in Italy. Bernard Berenson and great
architects such as Le Corbusier and Wright, fell in love
with it. Berenson arrived here after following traces of
Venetian artists in the Bergamo valleys who brought to the
city the brightness of the lagoon. The relationship
between Bergamo and Venice was very strong; for almost
four centuries, Bergamo shared history, art and culture of
the Venetian Republic.
When Venice decided in 1561 to start building the walls,
it was a time of serious tension between Venice and Spain,
which was ruling also the State of Milan. These walls
represented more of a political than a strategic target;
the powerful fortress of Bergamo was supposed to express
the clear intentions of the Republic to protect itself
against possible Spanish expansionary aims. At the same
time, the walls represented a reassuring asset, because
there was not sufficient space to keep an army large
enough to carry out an attack. The walls are very well
kept and one of the most important example of city walls
of the sixteenth century.
Today, a walk winds around the magnificent stone walls,
with frequent panoramic views of the modern city and of
the plain and mountain.
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Because of the recent elections in the United States, we
thought it a good time for a quick glance at Giuliano
Amato, the man who became Italy’s 58th post-World War II
Prime Minister.
Italy enjoys a history rich in culture with a powerful
romantic allure. Underneath the beauty is a political
realm with a volatile history. Today, Italy’s reputation
for political instability remains undiminished. Giuliano
Amato faces a tough job just to survive, let alone push
through much-needed political and economic reforms before
the general election in 6 months.
Giuliano Amato, 61, studied law at the University of Pisa
and received a masters degree in Comparative Law at
Columbia University in New York. He has been a Professor
of Comparative Constitutional Law at the University of
Rome as well as a professor at the Universities of Modena,
Perugia and Florence. Amato was also a member of
Parliament from 1983 to 1994, and was Undersecretary to
the Prime Minister’s office from 1983 to 1987. He has
written books and articles on economy and public
institutions, personal liberties, federalism, and
comparative government.
While Amato’s resume is impressive, his greatest asset is
how he relates to the people. Dubbed "Dr. Subtle" for his
diplomatic prowess, he has been quoted as saying, "To lead
yourself, use your head; to lead others, use your heart."
He believes that you cannot move people to action unless
you first move them with emotion. He is taking every
opportunity to meet with the "everyday citizen" and talk
about their needs.
Italy’s tumultuous politics has produced more than 50
different governments since the advent of the democratic
system. Surely if anyone can turn the tide of this
chaotic trend before the next election in April, it is
Giuliano Amato.
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