TRAVELLING WITH AENEAS
The Cruise of Values and FIRE – International Festival of Aeneas’ Route, two events to rediscover some symbolic places mentioned in the Aeneid
THE CRUISE OF VALUES
The Cruise of Values was the first event “on the sea” organised by the Associazione Rotta di Enea, in collaboration with the Italian Naval League, to celebrate the certification of the Cultural Route by the Council of Europe.
Sailing from Cilento to Campi Flegrei, the aim of the Cruise of Values was to remind us that the Mediterranean must be a place where people can meet and share the values of hospitality, love of the sea and nature, and mutual respect between generations, peoples and cultures.
Sailing along the coasts of Campania with the “Fedelissima” of General Antonio Gagliardo, coordinator of the Lega Navale Basilicata and Campania, the Cruise retraced some of the main stages of Aeneas’ journey: Palinuro, where Aeneas’ faithful helmsman met his death; Capo Miseno, the place where the trumpeter Misenus lies; Campi Flegrei with Cumae, where Aeneas consulted the Sibyl and, after descending to the underworld via Lake Avernus, met his father Anchises in the underworld.
The Cruise was a first “experimental” voyage in anticipation of 2022, when it will extend to the entire itinerary narrated by Virgil, from Troy to the coasts of Latium.
FIRE | INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF AENEAS’ ROUTE
This important event was preceded by the first edition of FIRE – International Festival of Aeneas’ Route, hosted in the beautiful setting of the Archaeological Park of Cuma in Campi Flegrei. The Festival offered three days of performances, music, seminars, guided tours, with numerous Italian and international guests such as the Grecian Ambassador to Italy, Mr. Theodore M. Passas.
In addition to a concert of traditional Greek music, the rich programme of the Festival included a “stroll” in the Archaeological Park of Cumae with a lectio magistralis by Professor Claudio Buongiovanni, lecturer in Latin literature, and Claudio Rescigno, archaeologist and fellow of Accademia dei Lincei; a tasting event featuring typical local products in collaboration with Slow Food; and a narrative theatre performance set to music inspired by the sixth book of the Aeneid, enriched by the intervention of Professors Filomena Giannotti and Alessandro Fo of the University of Siena.
The two events were an engaging and participatory opportunity to increase the public’s knowledge of the legend of Aeneas and to rediscover lesser-known but equally fascinating territories, raising awareness of our cultural heritage.
