Castrovalva and Vola Vola Vola

Castrovalva by M. C. Escher (1930)

Like many of Escher's early works, it depicts a place that he visited on a tour of Italy - the Abruzzo village of Castrovalva.  The perspective is toward the northwest, from the narrow trail on the left which, at the point from which this view is seen, makes a hairpin turn to the right, descending to the valley. In the foreground at the side of the trail, there are several flowering plants, grasses, ferns, a beetle and a snail. In the expansive valley below there are cultivated fields and two more towns, the nearest of which is Anversa deglie Abruzzi, with Casale in the distance.

A photograph of Castrovalva with a somewhat Escher-like feel

More great photos of Castrovalva, Anversa deglie Abruzzi and Casale here at Italian Ways

Vulesse fa' 'revenì pe' n'ora sole lu tempe belle de la cuntentezze, quande pazzijavame a "vola vole" e ti cupri' de vasce e de carezze	I would like for just an hour the beautiful time of joy to come back, when we played "fly fly" and I covered you with kisses and caresses.
E vola, vola, vola, e vola lu pavone, si te' lu core bbone mo' fammece arpruvà.	And fly, fly, fly, fly and flies the ... peacock, if you have a good heart now let me try again.
E vola, vola, vola, e vola lu pavone, si te' lu core bbone mo fammece arpruvà.	And fly, fly, fly, fly and flies the ... peacock, if you have a good heart now let me try again.
'Na vote pe' spegnà lu fazzulette, so' state cundannate de vasciarte.	Once, to ransom a handkerchief, I was sentenced to kiss you.
Tu ti scì fatte rosce e mi sci dette di 'nginucchianme prima e d'abbracciatte.	You blushed and told me to kneel down before hugging you.
E vola, vola, vola, vola lu gallinacce, mo' se me guarde 'n facce me pare di sugnà	And fly, fly, fly, fly and flies the ... chanterelles, now if I look to your face I feel I'm dreaming.
E vola, vola, vola, vola lu gallinacce, mo' se me guarde 'n facce me pare di sugnà	And fly, fly, fly, fly and flies the ... chanterelles, now if I look to your face I feel I'm dreaming.
Come li fiure nasce a primavere, l'ammore nasce da la citelanze.	As the flowers are born in the spring, love is born from childhood.
Marì, si mi vuò bbene a accome jere, ne' mi luvà stù sonne e 'sta speranze.	Mary, if you love me like yesterday, Do not take from me this dream and hope.
E vola, vola, vola, e vola lu cardille, nu vasce a pizzichille ne' me lo pò negà.	And fly, fly, fly, fly and flies the ... goldfinch, a kiss like a pinch on the cheek You cannot deny me.
E vola, vola, vola, e vola lu cardille, nu vasce a pizzichille ne' me lo pò negà.	And fly, fly, fly, fly and flies the ... goldfinch, a kiss like a pinch on the cheek You cannot deny me.
Nà vota 'r'na pupuccia capricciosa, purtive trecci appese e lu fruntine,	Once you were a spoiled girl, you had hanging braids and a bow headband,
mo ti sci fatte serie e vruvignose, ma ss'ucchie me turmente e me trascine.	now you've become serious and shy, but your eyes haunt and charm me.
E vola, vola, vola, vola la ciaramella, pe' n'ore cuscì belle vulesse sprufunnà.	And fly, fly, fly, fly and flies the ... shawm, for such a beautiful hour I would sink underground.

The song, almost the anthem of Abruzzo, was written in the 1920s by Luigi Dommarco (Ortona, 23 Dec 1876 -Rome, 3 Sept 1969); the music is by Guido Albanese (Ortona, 2 Dec 1893 - Rome, 6 Jan 1966).

The meaning of this song of Abruzzo is connected to the folk tradition, where "vola vola" was a simple, funny game. Boys and girls sat crouching around a companion who had been chosen as "Capogioco" (game leader). All players placed their pointing fingers on the game leader's knees waiting for the latter to say "Fly, fly, fly..." and the name of an animal.

 If the animal was a bird everyone had to lift their finger, otherwise they should stay still. Anyone who by mistake let a non-flying animal fly, had to pay a pledge (such as the handkerchief in the song). The pledge was then to be redeemed by paying a penance (as kissing a girl).

Italy World Club