I had a dream, a long dream
– First part
Strangely, I woke up very early. The island, or rather the castle, seemed to reconcile my sleep, which usually lasts until mid-morning. Typically, I’d get out of bed, make a simple breakfast of coffee and milk with three biscuits, and after my morning routine, prepare lunch. I genuinely enjoy cooking; it’s a creative activity that stimulates my imagination and fosters ingenuity.
But this morning, I wasn’t up to it; it was too early. Cecilia was sleeping so soundly that if I had started cooking,the inevitable clatter of utensils would have been a grave disturbance. It was a splendid day, the sun had recently risen, and the castle still rested in a magical, almost surreal silence. From the baschetto, I could see the sea peeking over the walls, resembling a blue tablecloth, veined with the colors of dawn.
So,I decided to go for a walk. Descending the house stairs, I headed towards “the floor,” intending to leave through the kindergarten door to tour the walls and then have breakfast in the square. However, somthing entirely unexpected immediately caught my eye! The square had been freshly paved! gone were the uneven surfaces, the earth, and the concrete patches covering plant and sewer passages. The building materials, haphazardly stacked near the walls, had also been removed. The oleander, planted many years ago in the left corner of the trionfo, stood tall, having reclaimed its rightful place-a vibrant green presence, adorned with scarlet red flowers that cascaded with overwhelming yet graceful beauty against the walls. Even the new historical archive, which I had always found presumptuous, intrusive, and wholly out of context, had gained a modicum of dignity with the new paving.
Turning my gaze outward, I realized the Via delle Mura had been redone, but when had this happened? Filled with enthusiasm, I began to wander through the castle’s alleys, and it was a revelation! no more holes, no instability, no earth, no traces of cement-and it was finally clean! The new pavement continued, restoring dignity to this place I deeply love and consider a miracle of human endeavor. arriving at Piazza della Rocca, my amazement grew; I could hardly believe my eyes! After years of neglect, the fortress once again had a roof and stood powerful and proud in the square. A sign at its entrance indicated the visiting hours and procedures for the new mineralogical museum of Giglio Island.
The castle was becoming what it should have been: “One of the most beatiful villages in Italy.”
Continues…