Limelight: Winter Wonderland By Lubna Abdel-Aziz It is not the North Pole; it is not the South Pole, yet it provides all the necessary elements to create a princely polar domicile for the 20th Winter Olympics. Therein lies the surprise, for the country in question is none other than the historic land of Italy -- Europe's vacation centre for sun, sand, and song provided by its many beaches, lakes, and resorts. This is the home of the Italian Riviera where the world's most beautiful people dance and prance in the summer sun to the strains of a million mandolins. Tourists from every corner of the globe come to enjoy and marvel at the wonders that are uniquely Italian. They sail the canals of Venice, gape at the monuments of Rome, admire the art of Florence, dream by the Bay of Naples, and thrill to the sound of heavenly voices at the Opera in Milan. That is not the sum of all the pleasures this boot-like peninsula has to offer. With its toe pointing towards Africa, its head leans at the foot of the Alps, housing the most picturesque winter resorts in the whole of Europe. In the northwest corner of the boot, lies the city of Turin, host to the Winter Olympics of 2006. The Winter Games started in 1924, 28 years after the first modern Olympics in 1886, held every four years, alternately with the Summer games. The Winter Games have increased their disciplines from six to 15 sports categories. Italy previously welcomed the Winter Olympics in Cortina in 1956, and the Summer Olympics in Rome in 1960. The choice of Turin in 1999 was controversial at best, but the Torinesi rolled up their sleeves and started the mammoth task of getting their city all perked and primped for the historic event. One and a half million visitors, 2500 athletes, from 85 countries were not disappointed. The opening ceremony on 10 February was more than spectacular, filled with lavish riches in art, taste, and skill, the definitive character of Italy, yesterday and today. Against a dazzling panorama of rolling hills, the burning blaze of dancing fireworks, and the sounds of "bravissimo", the 20th Winter Olympics began. Exuberant cheers of 30,000 in Olympic stadium, were echoed by a worldwide television audience of tens of millions. The spectacular pageant all elegantly dressed in winter white was highlighted by the mellifluous sounds of the world's greatest tenor, Italy's very own Luciano Pavarotti. The Olympic flag was carried by eight outstanding women, among them Italy's film icon, Sophia Loren, Hollywood's activist Susan Sarandon, Chile's two-time Nobel winner, writer Isabel Allende. The moment everyone was waiting for, the lighting of the Olympic torch, was performed by Stephania Belmondo, a five-time Olympian cross-country skier. She lit the highest cauldron ever in Olympic history, standing 57 metres. The parade of 2,500 athletes from 85 nations was the greatest crowd pleaser. Applause and cheers were afforded every delegation; a standing ovation was reserved for the home team. Roars of pleasure and delight filled the renovated football stadium, as it launched the 20th Winter Olympics, in this Winter Wonderland. Turin chose the phrase "Passion lives here" as its Olympic slogan. How befitting a description of the Italian spirit! Everything about Italy and Italians spells "passion". Although Italy can well be divided into three countries, as diverse and distinct in character, style, terrain, and food, all are quintessentially Italian -- the north, modern, wealthy and industrial, the centre suave, learned and sophisticated, and the south mostly poor and largely agricultural. The many dialects still makes it hard for Italians to understand one another. All Italians however, share the same passions for their religion, food, football (soccer to some), and of course, opera. Opera was born in Italy in the early 1600s, with Claudio Monteverdi's Orfeo (1609). The world still thrills to the passion of Donizetti, Puccini, Rossini, and Verdi. There is so much to see, so much to do in this rich and varied land, yet few of the millions of visitors get to see Turin, or as Italians call it, Torino. Capital of the Piedmont (foot of the hill) region, Turin lies on the West bank of the Po river. The name comes from Tau, Celtic for mountains, but "Torino" also means little bull in Italian, hence its coat of arms and symbol of the city. The history of Torino goes back to 218 BC, when the Carthaginian general Hannibal crossed the Alps and captured the city. Conquered by the Lombards, the Franks and the Roman Empire; it was annexed to the Duchy of Savoy at the end of the 13th century and was made capital of the Duchy in 1563. Its famous University, Piazza San Carlo, and the Palazzo Reale (Royal Palace), where many of the indoor Olympic activities are held, were all built during that period. In 1861 Turin became the capital of the newly proclaimed United Italy; in 1865 it moved to Florence, and in 1870 to Rome. Like every other Italian city, town, or village, Turin boasts greenparks, splendid piazzas, museums galore, among them the Automobile Museum, the National Museum of Cinema, and the Museo Egizio, housing the largest collection of Egyptian antiquities outside of Cairo. Home of the FIAT empire since 1920, it is also the home of one of Christianity's most sacred relics, the "Shroud of Turin", an old linen cloth, believed to have wrapped the body of Jesus Christ in his tomb. It was most probably discovered in Asia Minor, in the 500s, and bears the image of a man assumed to be Jesus Christ. Since 1578, it has been preserved within the walls of the Duomo di San Giovanni Battista (Cathedral of St John the Baptist), and is displayed for viewing, once every 25 years; the next showing, 2025. After dark, lights glisten on the ski slopes, displaying majestic evergreen- studded mountains covered with a white blanket of snow. The Alpine villages offer culinary delights which visitors find irresistible, especially their white truffles and cioccolati. Turin is the birth place of solid chocolate since the 18th century and produces the mouth-watering confectionery. Most famous is "Gianduiotto", after Gianduia, a local Commedia dell'arte mask. Every sensual pleasure known to man, is found in Italy, from high style fashion, hearty gourmet food, turquoise blue skies, soft sandy beaches, and frosty mountain tops. Italy has influenced the world civilisation in most consequential and significant ways, leaving a legacy in government, politics, art, and architecture, which moulded the very history of the Western Civilisation. The Renaissance awakened a Mediaeval Europe from its doldrums and lit the dark ages with beauty, art, science and literature. Every nation envied Italy's style, taste, art, ideas, literature, and music, and every nation was influenced by it. Despite numerous conquests, from Spain, France, Austria, and recently Hitler and Fascism, it has retained its Italian essence and spirit, full of zest, sentimentality, and above all, passion. Its lyrical language, titilating music, divine weather and scenic splendour, draws us to its shores, hypnotised by all the blessed beauty bestowed upon a land called Italy, better still, Bella Italia. If you have not yet had the good fortune to discover the glory of Rome, the beauty of Florence, the romance of Venice, the energy of Milan, and the "passion" of Torino, found in every little corner of Italy, find the time, do not tarry. Bellissima Italia, much loved land of Dante, Da Vinci, and Verdi, your ancient glory still stands, your Renaissance light still shines, your natural beauty still stirs the heart. You have stunned the world throughout your 2,000 years of illustrious history. Now, all dressed up in your splendid winter white, adorned by fragrant forest pines, you welcome the world's youth to your shores, and once they hear your song, and breathe your air, you shall be remembered, forevermore. Grazie Torino, Bravissima Italia, e arrivederci! I reached the Alps: the soul within me burned, Italia, my Italia, at thy name: And when from out the mountain's heart I came And saw the land for which my life had yearned, I laughed as one who some great prize had earned. -- Sonnet on Approaching; Italy (Turin 1888); Oscar Wilde (1854-1900)
