Opening:
Italy is the keeper of over 40% of all the world's art treasures from the snow-swept Alps to sundrenched Sicily, this land is more than a nation- it's a civilization. The expression, "to have one's hands tied behind one's back" is to be virtually speechless; agreeable climate; 40 million visitors each year; jagged peninsula shaped like a boot; Switzerland and Austria to the north; Mediterranean to the west; Adriatic Sea and Dalmatic Coast to the east; Italy's toe points to the island of Sicily with its heal in the Adriatic; the Appennine Mts. weave across the country; 58 million Italians; Naples- birthplace of Caruso and thin crust pizza; Sicily- volcanic; Bologna- culinary capital; Verona- hometown to Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet; Venice- everyone travels by boat; Milan- smart, chic, trendy- design capital of Italy; Florence- a trove of Renaissance treasure and Florentine chic.

ACT I:
Long stoney history- unmistakable relics; Etruscans- first hammered out civilization; cut building blocks for a Roman republic; Romans- fought and conquered, built roads, which led to a city, which led to an empire for 1,000 years, the Romans were the best and then the worst; when Rome fell swarms of invaders came to conquer- the Visigoths, Ostrigoths, Lambarths, and Germans from the Dark Ages to the Middle Ages, Europe withdrew from the world and classical learning was in a long sleep; 15th century- reawakening- Italy awakened the rest of Europe; new art perspectives came into a gothic gloom; ideas founded modern medicine and launched inventions from Michaelangelo, Leonardo, and Galileo; Italy was a patchwork of feuding states: Tuscany, Lombardi, and Venito; early 1800s- Gesepe Garibaldi led fragmented Italy to nationhood; "Italia resargimento!" means "Italy rise again!"; Italians united under one flag; Today, there are really two Italies: North- at the forefront of European culture and industry (Florence, Venice, Milan)- art, high fashion, high technology exported; South- once realm of knights from Normandy and Moors from North Africa. Italians call "mezo journo"- land of the midday sun, Scalerno, Capri, ruins of Pompeii, and Naples.

Naples- 6th century, Greeks settled in Italy and called it Niapolis; less than 150 miles south of Rome, province of Campagna- land drenched in light and heat; "See Naples and die"- Italians shout hilly, volcanic outcrops; Galleria Umberto- high glass ceiling and mosaic covered floors; Church of St. Francis of Paula- modeled after Rome's Pantheon; 13th century Castle Neouvo- political hub of city; 1873- Enrico Caruso born and loved to sing; men paid him to serenade their girlfriends; sang in opera houses in Europe and Metropolitan in New York; most famous world opera singer; retained Italian citizenship, but preferred to sing in the US; married at 45 Dorothy Benjamin (25 years old); August 2, 1921- died of bronchial pneumonia at the age of 48; entire world mourned; "You sing like Caruso" is the highest compliment to pay and Italian or American tenor.

Pompeii- 10 miles south of Naples in the shadows of Mt. Vesuvius; once a luxurious resort where Romans escaped to from the capital; August 24, 79AD- Mt. Vesuvius erupted and led to Pompeii herculaneum doom; the volcano raged for 11 hours; when it subsided, Pompeii was buried in pumice and ash; 1700 years after- hard mud and lava were broken through; startling discoveries- people were frozen in daily tasks; gardens and murals preserved as a reminder of a world 2,000 years before; Vesuvius is quiet now- people live there; Amalfee Drive- on Amalfee peninsula- very scenic; Sarento- inspired Italian songs; Isle of Capria- near Sarento- jetset, jagged coasts, bays, coves- once pirate hideaways; Capri- playground for ancient Romans emperor Tiberius built villas; Bay of Scalerno- east of Capri- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow taken in by it 1943- American GIs saw otherwise- Hitler ruled continent; September 9, 3:30am- 70,000 troops landed at Scalerno; German artillery sighted; 16th Pansy Division thrown against Allies and attacked by enemy fire; reinforcement arrived- 1,300 American paratroopers from the 82nd airborn; Hitler's fortress broken at Scalerno; next Allied initiative- liberation of Naples, then to Ansio where 3,500 Americans died.

Sicily- separated from mainland by Strait of Messina, though one land mass eons ago; Mt. Etna erupts sporatically- reshaping terrain; Sicilians are volcanic- their way of life- matriarchal women subdued by traditional black robes; machismo, family, and faith are their values; Syracuse- before Romans and Arab invaders or Normans or French, Greeks built city of Syracusa by the sea- performed in theaters; ever proud, but often poor, so many Sicilians immigrate to America; some families lost half their children during immigration, but each brought some of their homeland with them; typified that Southern Italians are shorter, closer to earth, composed of Mediterranean muscle and dark-eyed sultriness; Northerners are taller and fair.

Bologna- crossroad of north-central Italy; marbled sidewalks, porticos, and the oldest university in all of Europe; Petrach- studied there and Copernicus Marconi (gave radio to the world) worked out many inventions there; 1390- started building St. Patronius- still under construction.

Province of Venito- Padua, Venice, and Verona are all settings for Shakespeare.

Verona- filled with monuments- Medeival and Roman; old arena still used for concerts, plays, and operas; city of Romeo and Juliet; today, Verona post office gets thousands of letters addressed to Juliet, Verona, or Romeo, Verona.

Venice- empire on water; in May, annually, Venitians celebrate past; Today- still vibrant; 118 islands, 400 bridges, narrow canals from Grand Canal; gondolas- the boats which ride up and down the canals; gondoleers sing; San Marcos Square- St. Marx- 5 domed cathedral, where mass was earned; mosaics from Greece, Syria, and Africa studded with jewels and gold; Dog's Palace- adjoining prison, where Casanova was imprisoned for practicing Black Magic; the bridge is called the Bridge of Sighs because if you kiss under it, you love will last forever; 16th century- Rialto Bridge- lined with shops, Venetian glass and Burano lace Teatro La Fenice- 1850- Geseppe Verdi was to perform Rigoletto (La Donne Mobile) Carnival- everyone in elaborate costumes.

Lambardi (Po Valley)- Como-Italian Alps- rockclimbing; Lake Como- 16th century villas; silk capital; working closely with fashion design houses in Milan (30 mi).

Milan- industrial and financial capital of Italy; fashion, publishing, manufacturing, television, stock exchange, chic and vibrant; four centuries ago- Leonardo de Vinci- born out of wedlock- an artist, inventor, engineer, and architect, whose notes were made for mirrors; created works well beyond his time (flying machine), Mona Lisa, The Last Supper, Milan's Church of St. Mary of the Graces; Piazza Duormo- Milan's center cathedral- 1386 and took 500 years to finish- largest gothic structure in Italy- marble and gold Madonna on top of tallest of 135 spires and 2,245 statues; The Galleria- world's first shopping mall since 1877; Benitto Mussilini- in 1920s and 30s- first voted into power in Milan; killed in Milan near the end of WWII; leaders in fashion (Gucci, Armani, Fendi) adorn streets.

Genoa- birthplace of Columbus and Pesto sauce and Riviera (international) through Cannes, Nice, and Menton.

Portofino- smallest resort on Riviera; once only fishing boats in harbor now, worldwide luxury yachts; Metropolis- ancient, Mediterranean, once known as "La Superb"; Columbus- house still stands and name still in city registree.

Tuscany- once under Atruscans; now contains Pisa, Siena, Florence; Kianti hills grow grapes,producing Kianti wine; River Arno- bisects Florence; 8 bridges- Ponteveccio (old bridge) is the oldest

Florence- very Renaissance; 15th century- Dante, Bocaccio, Machiaelli; Benvenudo Chilini, Raphael, Michaelangelo, and Lorenzo Giberdi created bronze epic of Bible Brumoleski- dome for cathedral of Santa Maria de Fiore; Statue of David- Michaelangelo.

Siena- middle ages; pagaents and processions; Palio Dela Contrati- very popular horserace twice a year.

Leaning Tower of Pisa- 8-story belltower began in 1174; Bonano (architect) made it lean on purpose; Galileo dropped objects from the top to prove his theories.

Lazzio (Province of Latium)- Ostia, Tivoli, and Rome.

Rome- ancient spirits Romulus and Remus; for 500 years, Romans were conquerors and the most advanced civilization; forum, temples, roads, bridges, aquaducts, baths; The Republic- Caesar- Rome's ruler for life; March 15, 44BC- assassinated in forum; 27BC Augustus- first emperor; built Pantheon- huge marble columns; 117AD Hadrian- escaped to Tivoli; Compo de Fiori- market; Four Rivers Fountain- Bernini; Mike-Campadoria- elegant square; Spanish Steps- center of Rome; Via dei Condotti- shopping center. Tiberius (in Palestine)- Jesus crucified under Roman law; one of his missionaries- St. Paul- jailed in Trefortani and beheaded. Colosseum- 15,000 spectators watched 5,000 beasts slaughtered on opening; Christians thrown in to be malled; 315AD Constantine- Christianity- religion of Roman Empire. Vatican City- largest dome in Christandom. St. Peter's- no income taxes, or elections; 2,000 years ago- chariot races apostle Peter (first bishop of Rome) crucified. La Pieta-(Michaelangelo)- only work he ever signed; painted ceiling of Sistine Chapel for 4 years.