Ville de Coeur: Cultural Delights in Amalfi

Hello, dear reader. It’s been 6 years since I discovered this community by chance – and shortly after I chose to stay here. A community where I lived many good moments, I laughed, I cried, made friends from different corners of the world and got involved in cultural and entertainment virtual life. Ville de Coeur is a place where, once you discover and understand it, you feel like you are part of a family that learns to live together, to share special moments and comfort each other in sad times.

The foundation of Ville de Coeur was the Duché de Coeur – originally based on concepts from “Angélique – The Marquise of the Angels” by Anne Golon & Serge Golon – the first novel in Angélique series inspired by the life of Suzanne de Rougé du Plessis-Bellière, known as the Marquise du Plessis-Bellière.

Languedoc Coeur was the first region, Provence Coeur and Poitou Coeur soon followed – and today, Ville de Coeur is proud to have an 8 region sim created and replicated after places from real world by Ayla and Bedrich Panacek-Guisse. Behind these picturesque places and tourist attractions there is a titanic work, years of constant efforts and investments. Is really difficult to choose a first destination – each VdC`s sim being unique in its landscape and what it offers. However – because we have to start somewhere – please follow me to Italy, Coeur di Amalfi.

All you need is a palette of colors to describe Amalfi, and if you haven’t had the opportunity to visit these places in RL yet – you can do it now in Second Life. The first region of Ville de Coeur micro-continent not modeled after a French region and the oldest of the Italian maritime republics of the Middle Ages, the Amalfi Republic is a true spectacle of colors between the green of the mountain ridges, the turquoise of the Tyrrhenian Sea, the intense yellow of the lemons and the multicolored houses.

 

Amalfi`s origins

These places have captivated many eyes. At the beginning of the 20th century Renato Fucini, a fierce critic of the city of Naples who declared himself terrified by this place, when he visited Amalfi he said: „Il giorno del giudizio, per gli Amalfitani che andranno in paradiso sará un giorno come tutti gli altri.” (On the Day of Judgment, for the Amalfi to reach paradise it will be a day like any other). Over time, many poets have found their muse in these places. Goethe, who admitted that he was hopelessly in love with Amalfi, once said: “Do you know the land where the lemon blooms? There, i want to run with you there”. But – what these realms hide?

Historians tell us that Amalfi was founded in the 4th century by a group of Roman citizens whom Emperor Constantine invited to settle in Constantinople. On the way to the Byzantine capital, the story reveals that they were shipwrecked on the coasts of the Puglia region, where they founded the city called Melphi. The journey continued then to a place between the Lattari Mountains and the Tyrrhenian Sea, where they founded a small fishing village called Amalfi.

On the opposite side of the history, Amalfi is laden with legends of nymphs, mermaids or saints. One of these reveals Hercule`s passionate love for the nymph Amalfi. It is said that when the gods decided that she must die young, Hercules almost went mad with grief. Unable to change their decision in any way, Hercules looked for the most beautiful place to bury his nymph – so he chose a coast that seemed torn from Heaven, surrounded by the blue sea like the nymph’s eyes and the rocks laden with a landscape of wild beauty. In this place, which he called Amalfi, he built an emerald tomb, as an eternal testimony of their love.

Another legend says that this corner of the world was the land of three mermaids: Leocosia, Ligia and Partenope. They attracted sailors who lost not only their minds, but also their lives for those indescribable beauties and songs. Legend tells us that the only ones who escaped were Ulysses and his crew because of a saving trick: he covered the sailor`s ears with wax and then he tied himself to the mast of the ship, remaining motionless until the voices of the sirens were lost in the distance.

Not as romantic as the other legends there is also this story about the night of June 27, 1544 when the ships of the pirate Ariadeno Barbarossa approached Amalfi threateningly, which they intended to attack and destroy. When the sentries sounded the alarm, the inhabitants of the city went to the chapel where the relics of Saint Andrew were and prayed for hours, until late at night. When all seemed lost, miraculously, a terrible storm started destroying all the ships and pirate Barbarossa lost his life, along with his entire army. Since then, St. Andrew is considered the spiritual patron of the city of Amalfi.

 

Amalfi in Second Life

Returning to Coeur di Amalfi in Second Life, a statue of Saint Andrew dominates the central square next to an artesian well and its representations are everywhere. The most important monument dedicated to him is, without any doubt, the magnificent dome, one of the most beautiful churches in the world. As you can see on the picture taken at Ville de Coeur, sixty-two steps, wide and steep, lead up to the doors. Begun in the 9th and 10th centuries, it has been added to and redecorated several times, overlaying Arab-Norman, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque elements and finally a new 19th century Norman-Arab-Byzantine facade. The structure includes four small towers of Arab architectural type that are adorned with arches and are covered with majolica tiles.

Church services are held in Coeur di Amalfi during spring on Saturdays at 11 am SLT by Rt. Rev Magnus Brody. All faiths and non-believers are welcome to attend for his music and inspirational words (the service is not Catholic).

Just below the cathedral you will find the majestic Amalfi Ballroom where Royal Orchestra performances are held once a month, on a Saturday at 12 PM SLT. Right across the street you can step inside Au Geai Moqueur – Art Deco Gallery, Piano & Martini Bar – intimate, elegant and refined, with a 1920s touch – whose credits belong to Amelie Mersereau and Kris Lilliehook – the ideal place for a memorable evening of jazz and piano chords.

A little further there is the Italian Cultural and Community Center where Great Daze features periodically famous Italians/pan-Italians who have made our world a better place. The recently opened All-Stars Universe is dedicating in planning evenings with themed contests, tribute concerts and occasionally staged shows, Cinema Iris is open 24/24 and brings you a new movie every month, Osteria Satiro Ubriaco provides a full service bar and a dynamic selection of drinks and weekly events take place in Amalfi Piazza by our live singer Akilikos.

And if you are looking for outdoor or recreational activities, there are plenty opportunities for shopping, boating (mostly rowboats that can be taken anywhere in the 8 regions of Ville de Coeur), touring the area by trolley, bicycle riding, beach activities and parties – or simply exploring on foot! TIPS: a walk at sunrise is impressive!

Visit Coeur di Amalfi – and if we ever meet – don’t hesitate to say “Hello“!