 | GIORGIO @ THE Schönbrunn Palace VIENNA ¤ KOUN SADIQI MAGIDA Schönbrunn Palace (German: Schloss Schönbrunn [ʃøːnˈbʁʊn]) in Vienna is one of the most important cultural monuments in Austria and since the 1860s has also been one of the major tourist attractions in Vienna. The palace and gardens illustrate the tastes, interests and aspirations of successive Habsburg monarchs. In the year 1569, Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian II purchased a large floodplain of the Wien river beneath a hill, situated between Meidling and Hietzing, where a former owner, in 1548, had erected a mansion called Katterburg. The emperor ordered the area to be fenced and put there game such as pheasants, ducks, deer and boar, in order to serve as court's recreational hunting ground. In a small separate part of the area, "exotic" birds like turkeys were kept. The name Schönbrunn ("beautiful well"), has its roots in an artesian well from which water was consumed by the court: Legend has it that the emperor, when seeing it the first time, had called out "What a beautiful well!". During the next century, the area was used as a hunting and recreation ground. Especially Eleonora Gonzaga, who loved hunting, spent much time there and got the area as her widow's residence after the death of her husband, Ferdinand II. From 1638 to 1643, she added Gonzaga palace to the Katterburg. In the Turkish siege of 1683, both buildings were completely destroyed. |
 | My Vacation: Schönbrunn Palace (Vienna, Austria) Every time Im in Vienna to visit family Im trying to visit Schönbrunn Palace because the palaces grounds are beautiful all year round and most beautiful when the annual Christmas market is there with a big Christmas tree in the middle of the square right in front of the palace. If you have a chance, then do visit it. Schönbrunn Palace (Schloss Schönbrunn) in Vienna is one of the most important cultural monuments in Austria and since the 1860s has also been one of the major tourist attractions in Vienna. The palace and gardens illustrate the tastes, interests and aspirations of successive Habsburg monarchs. |
 | History of Sicily in one hundred seconds After a two-months work, i can finally publish my last short documentary: the animated doodle "History of Sicily in one hundred seconds". As the title suggests, it's a fast-run across a pressing and hyper-compact narration. Those who knew little or nothing about the events told, will be surprised by the great number of conflicts, wars, monarchies, dominations, martyrs and crimes that plagued the island in millenniums. I advise to not blink your eyelids as you watch the video: you risk to loose a whole century. Original Italian version here: http://www.salvatorescandurra.com/blog/2008/07/10/storia-della-sicilia-in-cento-secondi/ Credits: Script and Animation: Turi Scandurra (http://www.salvatorescandurra.com/) Screenplay: Nino Arcidiacono (http://www.madeinsicilyproduction.it/) Music: Peppe Gullotta (http://www.naxosinmusica.it/) Thanks to Alessandro Sciglio (voice for Italian version) Here's the transcription: One hundred eighty millions years ago Tethys Ocean splits Pangaea mountain ranges rise up among coral reeves it's hot flora, fauna and dwarf elephants the volcano Etna grows up by underwater eruptions then five thousands years ago in Stentinello the first neolithic civilization Sicanians get overpowered by Sicels Pantalica is a necropolis for all the dead phoenician sailors sea urchins and swordfishes here come the Greeks Naxos and Syracuse theaters carved in rocks or built on a hill like in Taormina Polyphemus and mermaids Archimedes and his burning mirrors Scilla and Cariddi first Punic War with Rome Republic and Empire corn and gladiators, then Vandals and Ostrogoths Byzantines, Arabians and Muslims tuna nets, orange and lemon trees scimitars and sheiks watering and architecture ceramics and cassata cakes Roger II and the Normans heritage to Suebi Frederick II and Poetry School Ciullo d'Alcamo, the first parliament Aragonese and Angevins The Vespers when the French drove us mad then peace of Caltabellotta House of Hapsburg and Charles V Bourbon dynasty Garibaldi who got injuried Piedmontese army Carabiniers the Serval, puppetteers unification of Italy the Messina Earthquake bandits and mafia coppola and lupara Giovanni Verga and Luigi Pirandello emigration and First World War fascism allied landings, Lucky Luciano the bandit Giuliano and laced coffee (Sicilian style) Placido Rizzotto and Peppino Impastato Tano Badalamenti and Marlon Brando as the godfather Andreotti and the mafia the disappearance of Mauro De Mauro the strange case Mattei and a certain Sindona lots of Christian Democracy and then Socialist Party Pizza Connection Falcone and the Maxi Trial the Corleonesi and Totò Schillaci at World Cup Buscetta and Dalla Chiesa the mafia massacres of Capaci and via d'Amelio money of Ciancimino, Totò Cuffaro and Raffaele Lombardo the Strait Bridge and Franza ferryboats and then, many things still have to happen but in the end the island will be eaten by the sea. |
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