how I survive the horrors

"A historical chronological depiction from an imaginary Italy: a guess the reference game". 100th Anniversary

Unknown: Pdor Mythos Unknown: Appears the superheroes gene "Vip" 10'000 A.C: In the Mediterranean basin lives a society of amazoness 89 A.C: Marcus Aemilius Scaurus is born 71 A.C: Spartacus leads a slaves rebellion 55 A.C: Tros of Samothrace takes the parts of the Breton resistance against the Roman conquest of Britain 50 A.C: Julius Augustus Caesar's complete conquest of Gaul finds resistance against a village in Armorica 11 March 44 A.C: Julius Augustus Caesar is murdered 80: Barbarian Ardarico's conquest of Rome miserably fails; Flavian Amphitheatre is inaugurated and Timo becomes a gladiator 128: Architect Lucius Quintus Modestus repeatedly travels through time until the 21st century and visits the modern Japan 536: Martinus Paduei, a mysterious genius ahead of his time, leaves his mark in history as inventor, business owner, strategist and politician 569: King Alboin befriends and welcomes a sly and smart peasant to his court in Verona 726: Girolama Pellacani is raped by the Longobards 1050: Brancaleone of Norcia is born 1076: The saint hermit of Bismantova is sent to Aquileia in search of allies at the behest of Pope Gregory VII, but is hindered by the devil 1080: Brancaleone of Norcia takes part at the first crusade 1141: Baudolino is born 1150: Various supernatural events take place at the castle of Otranto 1249: The company of Selva Bella participates at the mission to free Enzo of Sardinia 1271: Marco Polo begins his travel toward the Orient 1280: Marco Polo reaches the court of Kublai Khan and tell him about the 55 cities 1295: Marco Polo returns to Venice Early XIV Century: To win the maritime war against Venice, the Genoese captain Luigi Gottardi builds the underground canal of Meloria 1300: Poet Dante Alighieri visits the afterlife in a week 1327: William of Baskerville is involved in a murder case sets in a benedictine abbey 15 April 1452: Leonardo da Vinci is born 1478: Takes places the quests of the "Company of the Gallows" 1506: Arte Spalletti becomes an artist 1534: Two english brothers find a passage for a subterranean world where the time flows more slowly and is populated by a society of pygmies 1537: During the battle of Turin a french soldier mysteriously survives to several deadly wounds 1570: To save her lover, war-prisoner at Famagosta in Cyprus, the duchess of Eboli wears an armor and under the alias of Captain Storm fights several battle against the Ottoman Empire 1595: The suicide of two lovers leads peace in a longtime feud between two Veronese families 1630: The black plague continues its killspread, Spanish local lord Don Rodrigo is found dead 1643: Nobleman Roberto de la Grive is presumed lost after a shipwreck in the Pacific Ocean 1650s: Alchemist Girolamo Fumagalli develops the basic technique of thanatography 1660s: Viscount Medardo of Terralba returns changed and maimed in a strange and impossible way from the Ottoman wars in Bohemia 1686: After losing his brothers during the Franco-Spanish war at the hand of Duke Wan Guld, the Lord of Ventimiglia Emilio of Roccabruna promises to avenge them and becomes the notorious Black Corsair 1711: A group of alchemists evoke a demon to gain eternal life 1713: Sir Frances Varney commits suicide by throwing himself into Mt. Vesuvius 7 January 1730: In Siena is approved the Notice of Violante of Bavaria 1741: Antonio Salvatore "Totò" Sapore invents pizza to bring peace between French and Neapolitan armies 1750s: Armando "The Scorpion" Catalano seeks the Templar treasure 1762: Reverend Yorick, friend of Tristram Shandy, visits France and Italy for a health issue 1764: Father Schedoni is involved in a conspiracy 1767: Cosimo Piovasco of Rondò, future baron of Ombrosa, climbs up a tree and will live his entire life on the trees 18 October 1775: Carlo Altovivi is born 1790: Scandal of the fallen noble family Mazzini 1798: Nobleman and soldier Fabrizio del Dongo is born 25 March 1799: Jacopo Ortis dies 1801: Vampire Giovanni Nosferatu is born 1812: Soldier Lazzaro Scacerni is one of the survivors of the retreat from Moscow and, after returning in Italy, becomes a wealthy miller 1825: History professor Mercurio Loi disappears 1826: Dr. Weiss solves the Fritzheim case 1829: A frenchman discovers the Spada family's treasure located in Montecristo Isle 1850: Count Isidor Ottavio Baldassarre Fosco reaches England to plan a political conspiracy 1855: Princess Teresa Uzeda of Francalanza dies 1860: The wooden puppet Pinocchio becomes a real children 1863: Three persons, claiming to be part of a scientific expedition, are spotted been ejected from Mt. Stromboli 1864: Countess Marina Vittoria Crusnelli of Malombra gets possessed 1870: Enrico Bottini is born; Edwin Drood mysteriously disappears leaving a secret still unsolved 1874: As social experiment some prisoners are released in a deserted island to create a self-managed isolated colony; Arsène Lupin is born 1878: Rosso Malpelo dies 1885: A frenchman from Tarascon survive to a fall during an attempt to reach the peak of Mt. Blanc 1887: Professor Sandrelli develops a substance that cancels gravity 1888: Full of remorse, baron Carlo Coriolano of Santafusca admits of being a killer 1889: Masked hero "Hidden Face" and Ugo Pastore take part at the Treaty of Wuchale; Escorted by english explorer Adam Wild, Count Narciso Molfetta explores Africa 7 December 1891: Vito Andolini is born 1893: Marco Pagot is born 1895: Architect Emilio Varelli starts the construction of the Three Mothers' manors September 1897: Giannino "Gian Burrasca" Stoppani is born 1898: The suppression of Milan riots are sabotaged by Tommaso Reiner 1899: Vadim Vadimovich N. Storov is born 29 May 1899: Giuseppe "Peppone" Bottazzi is born 30 May 1899: Don Camillo Tarocci is born Early 1900s: Paolo Zeder hypothesizes the "K-Zone" theory; Actress Maria Sarti gains notoriety under the stage name Ninì Tirabusciò 1910: Architect Emilio Varelli finishes the construction of the Three Mothers' manors; Aldovino reaches the moon to marry the princess Yala; Count Emilio Ponticelli partecipes at the Daily Post air race 1911: Famous composer Gustav von Aschenbach dies during a holiday in Venice WWI: Flying ace Marco Pagot turns into an anthropomorphic pig and assumes the identity of the bounty hunter Porco Rosso; Aviator Luciano Serra, aviator Matteo Campini, Private Lazzaro Scacerni and Private Italino take part at the conflict; Baron Cesare Stromboli helps the Triple Entente; Private Piero dies 1915: Air piratess Filibus terrorizes southern Italy performing several thefts 15 October 1915: Emilio Largo is born 1919: A man dressed in red and constantly speaking in rhyme becomes one of the richest italian 1920: Famous film director Guido Anselmi is born; Pugilist Furio Almirante emigrates in America 1927: Dr. Artemio Zacchia founds a medicine and natural science academy and starts his studies on immortality March 1927: Detective Francesco "Ciccio" Ingravallo solves the Via Merulana mystery June 1929: Fascist militia suppression at Fontamara 1930: Dominetta Vitali is born; Scientist Pier Cloruro de' Lambicchi creates a substance that gives life to the images 1933: Gastone Uliani investigates the faun's case 17 July 1934: Ugo Fantozzi is born 1935: Italy's invasion of Ethiopia is obstacled by local spy Bara 1936: Lawyer Gino Motta is locked up in an asylum after claiming that in the sea near Levanto lives a colony of mermaids 29 September 1936: Lolito B. Lassica is born 1938: Benzino Napaloni signs an alliance with Adenoid Hynkel; The launch of hierarch Gaetano Maria Barbagli's expedition for Mars takes place; Primo Cossi chooses to undergoes at the EPRA experiment; Dr. Emilio Lizardo and Professor Tohichi Hikita build the oscillation overthruster, Lizardo trying to enter into the 8th dimension becomes insane; American archeologist Martin Padway travels through time until 535 1939: Count Zero becomes a fascist agent; Film director Salvatore Di Vita is born 10 May 1939: Hierarch Gaetano Maria Barbagli and his troop land on Mars WWII: Captain Alberto Bertorelli, Captain Antonio Corelli, Major Oscar Pilli, Sergeant Nicola Lo Russo, Lieutenant Gino Rossati, Marmittone and Galeazzo Musolesi take part at the conflict; Partisian Johnny loses his life; Partisan Natalino "Capellone" Tartufato saves the life of the english spy Charles Harrison, Private Antonio is considered as straggler in Russia 1940s: Marcella Valmarin becomes a famous actress under the stage name of Alba Doris 25 December 1942: Photographer Valentina Rosselli is born 1943: The Finzi-Continis family is exterminated in a German Nazi lager, along with other jews 1944: In a hidden palace in the Republic of Salò, tortures takes place by hand of four wealthy personality of the republic 1945: End of World War II in Europe and the prison camps are freed, Giosuè Orefice is among the survivors 3 March 1945: Nicola "Nico" Giraldi is born 6 July 1945: Roberto "Rocky" Balboa is born 1950s: Bianca Castafiore is recognized as one of the best soprano in the world; Amelia Bonetti and Pippo Botticella become two renowned tip-tap dancers 6 September 1950: Salvo Montalbano is born 1952: In a laboratory comes to life a creature made of rubber 1953: Michele Apicella is born; During a diplomatic visit in Italy a princess escapes through the streets of Rome 1955: Criminal and con artist Mr. Ripley lands in Italy 1956: Painter Buono Legnani commits suicide 1957: Exorcist Don Zauker lands in Livorno 19 September 1958: Renato "René" Ferretti is born 1959: Topo Gigio debuts and becomes a television star; Detective Nero Wolfe moves to Rome after some "problems" with FBI 1960: Authoress Enrica Valldolit wins the Nobel Prize in Literature 1961: A british spy agent kills the terrorist Emilio Largo; A cemetery man has a close encounter with the Death 15 August 1962: A young university student loses his life in a car accident caused by an overtaking 1963: Medic Duca Lamberti loses his license and is imprisoned for practicing euthanasia; Calimero is born; "The Alphabet Killer" is caught 1966: Criminal Mastermind "The Fox" evades from prison 4 October 1967: Deboroh La Roccia is born 1968: Diabolik is presumed dead; Primo Cossi wakes up from hibernation and becomes a hitman related to the events of the Years of Lead 1969: A british criminal gang robs the FIAT industry 1970s: A criminal uses the sewer of a metropolis as hiding place and house; At Milan a group of bounty hunters form the C.T Association 1971: Fumagalli's thanatography is used to solve the four flies' mystery; Alberto Valle becomes the new Avio Motor CEO 1972: Somewhere in northern Italy, inside the Military Area 36, Professor Endriadi and his research team build the first AI February 1973: Four men commits suicide through planteration in a villa near Paris 1 June 1973: A terroristic attack blows up the Madonnina statue atop Milan Cathedral 1974: Andrea Straniero is born; Approved the healthcare reform "C.M.G"; Camilla Cagliostri is born 1975: After months of shipwreck on a deserted island in the Mediterranean sea, the wife of the industrial Lanzetti and a sailor are saved; The corpses of the Crespi d'Adda cemetery are resurrected; At Rome, German psychic medium Helga Ulmann is brutally killed 1976: For having inflicts severe damages to the organized criminality all over Italy in just few years, mysterious killers murder the police commissioner Betti 1977: Virginia Ducci survives at a murder attempt thanks to her clairvoyance 1978: Science fiction writer Della Spigola is abducted by the martians of Phobos; Discovered a breed of talking dog with a particular white fur with red spots; Famous chef Fausto Zoppi is killed by drowning; It ends the Filippo Carducci's kidnapping case; Riccardo Finzi begins his career as P.I 1979: 1980s: The ministry of the Great Hunt is founded; 1980: "Caterina" an American brand of robotic housekeeper goes on sale; Neapolitan camorra boss "The Marseillaise" and his gang are killed after a showdown; Rocky Giraldi is born, so named in honour of the famous boxer 12 August 1980: The Matchstick Man is spotted near the Abruzzi countryside 3 October 1980: Leonardo Zuliani is born 1981: The criminal known as "The Human Beast" loses his life in a gunfight 1982: The "K-Zone" theory is confirmed and Paolo Zeder is resurrected as zombie 1983: For the first time, alive people witness the "Palio di Siena of the dead contrade"; It is archived the case of the serial killer known as "The Killer Dwarf"; Naples F.C pays three billion for the acquisition of Brazilian footballer Paulo Roberto Cotequinho, he'll lead the Naples to the victory of its first championship four years later. 1984: Two men inadvertently travel through time back the 1492 August 1988: The first issue of "Bloody Eye" is published 1989: During a conference in Rome, experts try to discover the truth behind the Edwin Drood mystery; Deboroh La Roccia becomes Rat-Man 20 March 1989: Commissioner Corrado Cattani is killed in a mafia ambush 1990: FIFA World Cup scandal, the Italy team hires two pornstars to win; Salvo Montalbano becomes a police commissioner 1991: 1992: Sicilian gangster Johnny Stecchino uselessly resort to a person exchange to avoid death; During the annual Milan Film Festival, mystery fiction writer and amateur sleuth Jessica Fletcher resolves a murder case; During the quadrennial pallastrada world competition the St. Catherine prophecy comes true burning up the entire state of Gladonia November 1992: Daria Marchesi is jailed for the Baldacci murder, thus Marino Strano becomes Bloody Eye's head writer 1994: "The Florence Monster" is finally arrested; A feud between two families ends with the use of a low-potential atomic warhead; After various vicissitudes experienced in India, Marco Donati is exposed at the Aquarium Berlin as "The boy with the gills" 1995: Marco Buratti aka "The Alligator" starts a new career as P.I. 1996: After his death Ugo Fantozzi returns to life until 1998 1997: Police agent Napoleone di Carlo abandons his profession and moves in Switzerland 1999: Ugo Fantozzi is cloned; "The Fish in Love" becomes an international bestseller 2000s: Jimi Dini works at the development of his videogame "Nirvana"; Dr. Bartolomeo Zacchia continues his father's studies 2001: A romanian vampire is sighted in Rome April 2001: Giorno Giovanna becomes the Gangstar of the mafia association "Passione" 2005: Police agent Rocky Giraldi enters in service 2006: Rise of nationalism in Italy brings to the birth of Captain Padania July 2006: Activist Leonardo Zuliani disappears 2007: Mater Lacrimarum is killed 2009: During a spiritual séance, Gualtiero Marchesi conjures the Emily Ann Faulkner's spirit 2013: Long Wei becomes a local hero for the chinese communities in Italy; Celestine VI becomes the new pope 2014: An amateur gang of smart drugs dealers is arrested; Michele Silenzi gains superpowers 2015: Low-grade criminal Enzo Ceccotti gets superpowers and becomes the superhero Jeeg Robot; Arsène Lupin's grandson is spotted in Italy 2016: Benzino Napaloni is cloned; Intellectual Mario Bambea survives at his suicide attempt, contemporaneously begins the rise of popularity of the comedian Fabrizio "Bizio" Capoccetti 2017: In Calabria a farmer befriends a rare specimen of unicorn 11 September 2077: An asteroid falls in northeast Italy sweeping away Padoa, Vicenza and Verona while Venice is half submerged

|Cities&Places| The Seven Cities  Meloria Canal  Gualdana Pine Forest  Nepente Isle  Stranalandia Island Desolation Isle  Pescespada Island  Malapunta  Clerville  Porcionia  Bacteria Kindaor  Gladonia  Tristalia  The Land of Toys  Gerolstein  Lotto Valentino  Bassavilla  Lancimago  Vigata  Montelusa  Loquasto  The 55 Invisible Cities  Pratofungo  Ombrosa  Pineta Sagunto  Pista Prima  Frittole  Sevalio  Brigantes  Sompazzo  Monzurlo  Salsiccia  Acqua Traverse  Buffalora  Roccaverdina  Nofi  Norbio  Solara  Scasazza  Ponteratto Idrasca  Giancaldo  Pieve Lunga  San Michele  Borgo Tre Case Borgo Dieci Case  Accendura 

|Fiction in Fiction| Urban X (Pope) Astrubal I (Pope) Pius XIII (Pope) Celestine VI (Pope) Luke I (Pope) Libero I (Pope) Teomondo Scròfalo (Painter) Dùdron (Painter) Amos Pelicorti (Sculptor) Jep Gambardella (Writer) Cornelio Bizzarro (Writer) Leo Cordio (Writer) Ulisse Isolani (Writer) Ubaldo Terzani (Writer) Vincenzo de Fabritiis (Writer) Thomas Prostata (Writer) Giovanni Pontano (Writer) Giuseppe Marchi (Writer) Morgan Perdinka (Writer) Antonio Casella (Writer) Enrico Puzzo (Writer) Arturo Vannino (Writer) Edoardo Lasagnetta (Writer) Ugo Redy (Writer) Carlo Sperato (Poet) Giancarlo Santini (Film Director) Lippini Bros (Film Directors) Gambalesta (Actor) Enzo Melchiorri (Actor) Franco Melis (Actor) Saverio Crispo (Actor) Marco Salviati (Actor) Sofia Barlow (Actress) Giorgio Fini (Tenor) Carlo "Vitalis" Balzani (Tenor) Tony Corallo (Singer) Pat Rubino (Singer) Luca Pappacena (Singer) Quartetto Basileus (Band) Martino Piccione (Guitarist) Mariottide (Songwriter) DJ Vomito (Rapper) Bud "Bomber" Graziano (Boxer) Franco Fibbri (Soccer Player) Antonio Pisapia (Soccer  Player) Gli occhi del cuore ("The Eyes of the Heart") (Tv Series) Medical Dimension (Tv Series) La Bomba ("The Bomb") (Tv Series) Redenzione ("Redemption") (Movie) Paura d'odiare ("Fear to Hate") (Movie) L'usuraio licantropo ("The Werewolf Usurer") (Movie) Thor e le regine nude ("Thor and the Naked Queens") (Movie) Il vortice equestre ("The Equestrian Vortex") (Movie) La regina del pianeta nero ("The Queen of the Black Planet") (Movie) La palude del caimano ("The Caiman Marsh") (Movie) La vendetta del cobra ("Cobra's Revenge")  (Movie) I ragazzi del Bronx  ("The Bronx Boys") (Movie) Il caimano ("The Caiman") (Movie) Cataratte ("Cataracts") (Movie) Mocassini assassini ("Assassin Moccasins") (Movie) Maciste contro Freud (Maciste Versus Freud") (Movie) La mamma di Freud ("Freud's Mom") (Movie) Natale con la casta ("Christmas with the Caste") (Movie) La Febbra ("The Fever") (Movie) La polizia s'incazza (Movie) Sinite Parvulos (Movie) Margas (Movie) Il terrore di Parigi ("The Terror of Paris") (Play) Space Queen Vega (Videogame) Amedeo's Revenge (Videogame) Il codice indecifrabile ("The Indecipherable Code") (Novel) L'albicocco al curaro ("Apricot with Curare") (Novel) La paura del giorno ("Fear of the Day") (Novel) L'apparato umano ("The Human Apparatus") (Novel) Evoluzione digitale ("Digital Evolution") (Novel) Cortocircuito ("Short Circuit") (Novel) Folgore su Policastro ("Thunderbolt over Policastro") (Novel) La ninfa e il cadetto ("The Ninphe and the Cadet") (Novel) Il pesce innamorato ("The Fish in Love") (Children's Book) Bloody Mario (Comic Strip) Bloody Eye (Comic Book) Megaditta (Company) Nosferatù (Company) Finmor (Company) Centovetrine (Company) Auto Avio Motor (Company) SOFRAM (Company) Tekne (Company) Wondercomics (Company) Tondello Spa (Company) Digitex (Company) Sbav (Company) Famburgher House (Company) Trattoria Aldini (Company) Smack-O-Mat Corporation (Company) Partito Regressista (Politic) Partito Socialista Unificando (Politic) Italia in Marcia (Politic) Grande Destra (Politic) Longobarda (Football Club) Borgorosso (Football Club) Marchigiana (Football Club) Olimpia (Football Club) Eat it! (Product) Fido Uomo (Product) Io Cane (Product) Pandoro Sauli (Product) Cacao Meravigliao (Product) Cioccolato Spagnoli (Product) Marmellata Puffin (Product) Acqua pulita (Product) Coralba (Product) Sarchiapone (Animal) Colombre (Animal) Jaguar Shark (Animal) Tropelio (Animal)

In fair Verona, our tale begins with PIERO RUIZ, who is NINETEEN years old. He is often called POMPEY by the CAPULETS and works as their INITIATE. He uses HE/HIM pronouns.

He was the single poisonous flower in the children’s garden. The sun tried with all its might to love him into something beautiful, but Piero had no need of beauty. He had little need of anything but his PRIDE. The other children feared the way his gaze never swayed, and how he laughed only when one of them tripped. He was a strange boy who danced to a song no one else seemed to hear, a destined loner who found more comfort in the clarity of his MIND than the chatter of others. There was not a moment that Piero did not believe he was ABOVE them all. Raised to be wiser than his age and cleverer than his peers, Piero was five steps ahead of them all — but his parents were the ones who held the key to the universe, and Piero was HUNGRY for it. He trailed their steps and listened in the dark to their whispering, but they spoke in a different language — literally and figuratively. The lilt of Italian was similar enough to his native Spanish tongue, but the words they used confused him: bouquets delivered to the florist, roses blossoming in the night, planted in their garden. Later, he would learn that his entire childhood was founded on a hidden code: shipments of guns delivered to a client, a clandestine meeting in the night, sent from Verona to their home in Valencia. His parents lived in another world, and though Piero was too young to express it, he LONGED to join them in it.

When he was old enough, they FINALLY invited him into the secret castle. You have never been a normal boy, his father said proudly. With one hand over her husband’s, his mother chimed in, And you have always known that our family has never been normal. Like plucking petals from a daisy, they told their captivated son their story. Gatekeepers of the Capulet’s network in Spain, the Ruiz name was enough to silence all questions and strike fear into the people’s heart. They kept the Capulets wealthy; in return, the Capulets kept the Ruizes POWERFUL. Their family was one of great and long history, and Piero was to be a part of it. He was BORN for this life: endless training and sparring with his mother, riddles and mental exercises with his father. You are not normal, but that isn’t enough, his mother said with a look of ice in her eye, standing over him as he tried not to wince. Be smarter than this, his father demanded, live up to your namesake. And so he did. A weaker boy might have asked for kindness. He might have asked to be treated gently as he stepped into his BIRTHRIGHT, but Piero was not weak. More than that, he was not stupid. The world around him was blind, yes, but it was also BRUTAL; he would not shy away from the facts. He would look it in the eye and confirm that he was a Ruiz, and he was born to conquer.

But what use is a conqueror without an army? What use is a PRINCE without a throne to inherit? The kingdom is destroyed, stone by stone, at the hands of a rivaling family, stripping the Ruiz name from a symbol of might to a LAMENT of what once was. Piero alone survived — without money, without power and without LOVE. The promise of his future, sealed with his name, was lost. It meant nothing; for the first time in his life, Piero was NOTHING. The Capulets would not trust their empire in the hands of a boy still stepping into the shoes of a man, so they sent one of their own to do what the others could not: burn what was old and let the ashes birth something new. But Piero had won the favor of death once; when the Capulets came, Piero made a friend of DESTRUCTION yet again — and this time, its name was Tiberius. Call it a match of like-to-like or a glimpse of wicked luck; Piero didn't care about romantic whims and abstract forces. He would trust only the spill of blood, the thrill of his fist crashing against skin, the ecstasy of BATTLE and WAR. His spirit called out to Tiberius, and Tiberius’s own rose to answer it. In a battle of brute force — one fighting through loss and grief, the other extending bait after bait to test his limits — a kinship was formed. A kinship that SAVED Piero’s life.

And so Piero said goodbye to the only home he’d ever known; it had nothing left to offer him. With Tiberius at his side and tears locked away, he marched into Verona with a LEGACY to protect. He had never been a NORMAL boy. A survivor of two assassination attempts; an unblinking witness to the death of his mother and father, who did not beg or weep in their last moments; a prince primed to lead the Capulets in his country, choosing to rise in a foreign land. They taunted him; called him the boy with nothing to lose, a lost stray with only the Capulets to live for. Quietly, with a practiced void in his eyes, Piero waits. He will honor his parents by living up to his namesake. One day, he will return to Spain a king to reclaim what is RIGHTFULLY his. For now, he is a Capulet; but all of Spain and all of Italy will learn to fear the name Ruiz. 

TIBERIUS CAPULET: Sponsor. All Piero has to offer Tiberius is all of him. His future bleeds Capulet gold, but he would not bleed at all if not for Tiberius. It makes a boy weary; a life is a great and heavy thing to owe another, but there is no running away from it. The two have become something like brothers, but with all the love and fierce loyalty comes a subtle resentment. A silent grudge that rises to the surface in Piero’s ugliest moments: why did you save me at all, if you intended to hold me back? There is no doubt in Piero’s mind that he is ready to become a solider — yet Tiberius continues to tell him to wait. Most of the time, Piero trusts his sponsor and mentor. But on dark and moonless nights, he lets himself remember that Tiberius came to kill him, first.

VIVIANNE & CYRUS SLOANE: Admirant & Frenemy. He makes a habit of impressing all who meet him, and Vivianne is no exception. Her rank doesn’t intimidate him; a prince does not fear a queen, but respects her and trusts her counsel. He originally sought her out to express his parents’ opinion (disguised as his own) on how Capulet operations in Spain could be improved. With a faint flicker of amusement on her lips, Vivianne listened and said to Tiberius, who stood beside Piero: There might be a chance for this one. He’s continued to seek her out since, and a certain Capulet took notice. There is no denying that Cyrus hates Piero; there is also no denying that there are few who reach Cyrus’ or Piero’s level of cleverness and wickedness. In each other, they have found a strange and twisted match, and the two have forged a strange and tense acquaintanceship that borders on friendship some days, and veers into antagonism on others.

TRINITY ZAKARIAN: Torment. He can still recall the look of haunted shock on her expression when she first crossed his path: you look just like him, she had muttered softly, barely loud enough for him to hear. Thinking she was deranged, Piero moved to walk away, but she stepped boldly in his way yet again. Those ghostly eyes didn’t blink as they bore into his, until Piero pushed her aside to walk home. Since then, he’s learned who Trinity is. One of the most fearsome Montagues, which isn’t saying much, Tiberius had scoffed. Fearsome? Piero had scoffed right back. She’s a psycho. But he soon learned exactly why she terrified all of Verona. She wants nothing more than to destroy him — for what, a passing resemblance to someone in her past? Piero is determined not to be afraid of Trinity, but he’s found himself keeping an eye on dark corners wherever he goes. He knows the cost of being unafraid; it cost him his parents and his home. Trinity will not take Verona away from him, too.

ORELLA GARCIA: Mouse. They were both Spanish born and bred, proud and haughty children that glowed on their pedestals under the sun. But where Piero had to fall and be reborn, Orella had simply risen and thrived. He knows that it irks her, how he manages to slip into the good grace of those she had to bow her head to time and time again. What gives him all the more satisfaction is how he serves under the great Tiger of Verona himself, whereas she still has yet to make a name for herself -- independent of Garcia gold. He has risen and bounded in leaps and strides while she, the perfect soldato, has found her feet sinking into the quicksand of politics. Little does he know, though, that she is not bothered by this. Soon, she’ll take a club to his knees and then they’ll see how this golden Capulet boy shall rise.

Piero is portrayed by WOLFGANG NOVOGRATZ and was written by MINNIE. He is currently TAKEN by BRIDGET.

You wait for an event for so long, and then in an instant, everything seems to be over.

It happened again this time.

After a dreary autumn day, sported the day before, for the day of the big event, Verona has prepared a beautiful day, with a warm afternoon sun.

The meeting of the soundcheck was scheduled for 4:30pm and finally after an hour and a half of the queue, and endless beautiful meetings with so many fans that I know only via internet, we managed to enter.

Ignazio went wild in an imitation of Freddy Mercury, in “I WANT TO BREAK FREE”, too good and nice Ignazio.

Half an hour of song rehearsals, and the boys greeted us and left. There are two full hours before the concert starts and we can’t leave the Arena.

Slowly, the whole Arena fills up, the emotion is at its peak.

A pianist opens the evening and then IL VOLO, it all starts !!!

The stage is beautiful, full of lights, a large inscription IL VOLO stands tall. It starts with “NESSUN DORMA”.

A beautiful start as documented by the video of our Alicja that was in the front rows. Thanks Alicja! 😊

“CARUSO”

At the end of the song, there is a nice exchange of our boys’ lines, I translate it for you.

G = Thank you all, nice though, but do you realize where we are? P + I = In Verona G = OK, I wanted to play the part of those who exalt, it wasn’t a prepared joke, ok I won’t say anything anymore. I = However, I, as a family member, as a brother …… P = I understand, you’re driving me away. I = No. P = But look what a face you are !! I = No. P = You have the same face as that guy on the plane. We were returning from Paris, Paris-Bologna.

I = Can it be that he is here? We hope not. P = Paris-Bologna, we enter by plane first, it was you and me ….. G = I swear to you that if it doesn’t make you laugh ….. P = It’s funny (and then addressed to people) Laugh! (laughs). I was on the plane, second row, me, corridor, Ignazio. I = No, you are wrong. P = Come on, Ignazio. I = You must tell it like this, there was the corridor, I was here and you were there, in the row in front of me, but on the opposite side. P = Perfect. A man enters, all composed, with a pair of shoes that ….. I = But what do you say “all composed” ?.

P = It was a little strange, the pistachio green shirt, the pink pants …. G = Maybe there’s someone here, dressed like that … I = (for people) Is there someone here dressed as a “pistachio and strawberry ice cream cone?” (laughter) I don’t think so.

P = Pistachio shirt and strawberry pants, and crocodile shoes, electric blue, it was something to think “tomorrow I go to the barracks to make the complaint”. I = However I approach … P = …. to me, and he tells me in Sicilian dialect …. (look, in Sicilian it says TALIA) I = But sorry, I’m here, I’ll do my part. G = I make the guy. P = No, I do it, you do Piero, me.

I = Crocodile human ice cream arrives … G = See that Pio and Amedeo (two Italian comedians) were here (in the Arena) yesterday! I = Ok, at a certain point, I see the guy arrive, he passes and I say to Piero (in Sicilian dialect for not being understood by the guy): “ Oh Piero, taliaci scarpe” (look at the shoes) …… now, one of Paris, do you think he can understand ???

P = And this guy, two meters tall, passes by, turns to Ignazio and says “Do you want to look better at my shoes ???” (laughter) …. and Ignazio makes this face …. (Piero makes an open mouth) I = But if I am here I do it my face ……. I made the surprised face !!! P = However I wanted to tell this event and now I’m leaving, as a brother, I’m leaving. (to the people) I will miss 3 minutes and then I come back, don’t cry. (applause, Gianluca approaches Ignazio) I = If now they bring us the microphones, we sing.

G = I’ll give you a little kiss. I = No, no, (Gian dismisses), you never know, Ricky Martin teaches, in the end it is so, and there is nothing wrong, though …. G = Stop it, you know it’s not like that! I = What’s got to do with it, but you don’t give it to me, kisses. G = It is a fraternal gesture. I = And you keep these fraternal gestures, all this kindness …. G = Do we want to sing ?? I = We are passionate about Musicals, and this is why we decided to sing this song, it is part of one of the most famous American Musicals in the world, “WEST SIDE STORY” ….. (Ignazio jokes with the emotions of the public) … I seem to be Mega Mind: “MARIA”.

“A CHI MI DICE”

When “SMILE” starts, there is a nice surprise, Fabio Ingrassia, on stage, performs a beautiful drawing, which in the end is a portrait of Charlie Chaplin.

Very beautiful.

One of the most touching moments:

Ignazio sings “ANCORA TU NELL’UNIVERSO”, magnificent interpretation, Ignazio, how much emotion.

Same emotion for Piero with his solo “WHERE DO I BEGIN”, wonderful interpretation.

And what about the fantastic “BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER” by Gianluca, emotion to the stars, another fabulous interpretation.

Every once in a while my eyes turned around, and it was a spectacle in the show, a flood of faces and hands that clapped, little lights that lit up, fantastic!!

  And in the end, an explosion and a lot of colorful confetti, beautiful.

All really fantastic, the 27 songs performed with so much skill but also with much love, and what about the voices, the voices of Piero, Gianluca and Ignazio, are getting better and better, a charm that takes you from beginning to end.

And for those who want to see almost the whole concert from beginning to end, here is this video, it was taken up sideways and often frames the big screens, but you really don’t lose anything of the evening.

Some beautiful pics of the evening.

(Click on any photo to enlarge it.)

                      This was published by Elisa d’Ospina, a famous model in Italy.

Operation happiness, success.

Yesterday I wanted to surprise my grandmother bringing her to the Il Volo concert. She did not expect me to come and I found myself in Verona waiting for her. She didn’t even know that we would have seen the concert from under the stage and she was ecstatic all evening holding my hand. The strongest moment when the boys sang “Caruso”, one of the few songs that makes me cry automatically. Before he died, when he was still well, I was at the table with my grandfather and in a transmission there was Lucio Dalla singing his masterpiece. This big man of almost two meters became small and moved. From that day “Caruso” became the song that reminds me of grandfather. And last night hand-in-hand we listened together with grandma. We went out at midnight with her repeating in a loop: “What a great gift”. Thanks also to Gianluca Ginoble who greeted her from the stage. It’s nice to make those you love happy.

If you have time, don’t waste your time and dedicate it as much as you can to the loved ones. ❤️

You guys were great, there are no right words to express emotions.

To understand, you need to be there, to see, and above all to feel, and then everything will seem so simple and beautiful to you, and a wonderful feeling will come into you and you would no longer want this beautiful feeling to go away.

But as always, everything ends and you already miss all of this, but other concerts are on the horizon. The emotions continue !!

Daniela 

Credit to owners of all photos and videos.

VERONA : MUSICA TOUR 25 by Daniela You wait for an event for so long, and then in an instant, everything seems to be over.

“Don’t Rain On My Parade” from “Funny Girl”

Barbara Streisand

photo credits: Bing Images

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PIERO! FROM GINA IN TEXAS 🙂

Here’s your Birth Flower..

On your birthday, Piero, I am reminded of an old song that so aptly describes you:

“Stay as sweet as you are,

Don’t let a thing ever change you.

Stay as sweet as you are,

Don’t let a soul rearrange you.

Night and day I pray

That you’ll always stay,

Just as sweet as you are.”

HAPPY BIRTHDAY from Mary Bohling

Happy Birthday and enjoy your day! Hugs Linda

Happy 24th birthday dear Piero. Your voice sends me to the stars. My life has been enriched by your talent and personality. See you at your next U.S. tour. Joanie Guyon in California

Happy  Birthday from your Detroit fan who told you: it is your voice that makes this singing group – DIFFERENT.             Rosemarie Ringenbach

Dear Piero:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

A Love Letter for you.

From the time I first saw you, September 4, 2011, you have been changing my life every day. Simply by growing up to be the many-talented and handsome and charming young man that you are – you continue to change my life. Every day I hear your voice, and I fall for you all over again. You give me hope for the future of music among the young people of the world. What heights you have flown to! When I hear you sing, I forget to breathe!

  When I see you face to face, my brain just quits and I am unable to say anything that makes sense. So count me among the many fans who cannot tell you what you really mean to me, except from the safety of the internet. You are one of my newest three grandsons – adopted, of course, and younger than my natural granddaughter!

  Piero, I send you my love and admiration, and for the parents who raised you  – gratitude for their job, well done! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

With love from Texas,

Linda P

Happy 24th birthday Piero!   Enjoy your day.

Chris

Piero, you light up my life with your glorious voice.  You have a most wonderful career ahead of you.  I am wising you a heartfelt Happy Golden Birthday!  I’ll be eagerly awaiting your next American Concert Tour.

 Love to you from Minnesota, USA ~ Allene Shipman

Dear Piero,

On your birthday, we wish you a wonderful, special day full of blissful happiness, surrounded by the people you love and doing whatever brings you great joy. You are, without doubt, one of the best singers in the world, but your magic is much more than that. Your fun loving personality, generosity of spirit, the passion you give to the music and that magnificent smile, brings great happiness to thousands of people. You deserve that this bounces back to you and to experience enormous happiness, especially on your special day.

Buon compleanno Sue and Graham Hemshall Nottinghamshire UK

Happy Birthday, Piero!  I hope life is good and you have many blessings!

Rosemary Westgate

Tanti Auguri Piero! Since your last birthday, it has been another amazing year! Your “Notte Magica” concert in July in beautiful Florence with Placido Domingo was absolutely stunning! Loved that you started the concert with Nessun Dorma which I had been hoping for you, Ignazio and Gianluca to one day sing. It was everything I expected and more. The entire concert was splendid! The solos, duets and all the songs were wonderful and Ave Maria, Mater Misericordiae was spectacular as well. Can’t imagine how you found the time to train for such a difficult repertoire but appreciate how hard you all work to be the very best and that you certainly are.

I am very grateful that I was able to attend your concerts in Easton and at Radio City Music Hall and they were both wonderful! Thank you for all the beautiful music and best wishes for another extraordinary year. God bless you and all your loved ones.

Hugs to all, Margaret Ladolcetta

Happy birthday, Piero! Best wishes for you. Many successful years with Gianluca and Ignazio. All the best!

Best regards, Paula

Buon Compleanno Piero🎂🎂 May your 24th year be filled with many more successful endeavors. Grazie for sharing your time and talent with your many adoring fans. I attended the Notte Magica concert in Miami where I did my first M&G and had a grand time. I look forward to many more!! 🎼🎶🎼🎶

Tanti Auguri Annette Simonini Naples, Florida

“Sending you my wishes for a happy 24th birthday. I hope you have a special day filled with all good things – love of family, friends and fans. Your music has given so much pleasure to the world and I hope you know how special you are to all of us. Happy Birthday, Piero!!”

Best Wishes and much love,  Janet D

Dear Piero…have an awesome birthday❤️ ~~ tcarosi1956

Have a wonderful, relaxed day, get some rest & recreation! All the best for the future, from that crazy old lady, you overwhelmed in Düsseldorf on 17A! ~~ Astrid Scheck

Your Birthday marks one of the many milestones from the day you were born. Sharing your gifts makes the world a happier place. We all need the joy you’re bringing to the world. Be well and may you have an unforgettable Birthday. Dr. Jay and Victoria Wilson

Ciao, Piero….♥♥

This is ‘Nonna’ Harriett sending you my love and warmest Happy Birthday wishes for your 24th Birthday! *<:-P party You cannot imagine how your beautiful music helped me during my months of therapy following my back surgery last January. You lifted my spirits so much, every day, as I played your CD’s and DVD’s. I set a goal to make it to the Chicago Opera House in March to attend IL Volo’s concert. I made it!!! You all were magnificent, as always, and I stood with tears of happiness, with many others, to offer standing ovations following every song. You, Gianluca and Ignazio were so kind to me at the Meet and Greet, steadying me to stand without my walker. I am looking forward to attending another concert when you return to Chicago. God bless you, dear Piero, and may you celebrate your birthday and enjoy your well-deserved success, as you bring love around the world. Ti amo. ♥ Nonna Harriett Eckberg

Dear Piero,

Hope you have a fantastic birthday; still young and so very full of talent.  I am still on a high cloud after seeing you in Verona, it was the best time of my life!  Love you guys.  Cannot wait to see you again!  Much love,  Il Volo fan – England  xxxxxx

Dear Piero, Wishing you a wonderful Birthday, hope one day you can return to San Antonio, Texas🤗. Love Joyce Bond

Piero, Buon compleanno from the lady in Detroit that gave you the Nail of Pavarotti. Good luck in your career and in your life. Thank you for all the joy you bring to us. 🎂 ~~ Rose Marie Paliobeis

PIERO! Happy Birthday from Minnesota! You have adoring fans here who claim to have known you since your very young days & watched you grow up from being a child prodigy to a very handsome young man with a magic voice & a magnetic personality. May you always have happiness & good cheer. Please stay just the way you are. We love all of you.

Trish

Happy Birthday, Piero!!! I know your day will be filled with fun, laughter and much love from your family, friends and fans. God bless you on your special day.

Hugs, Beverly Schreiner, NJ, USA

Dear Piero

May the coming year bring you much happiness, health and good surprises!

from Toronto with love, Penina Honig

IT’S CELEBRATION TIME!

Wishing you champagne, a cake with a sparkler candle and a chorus of –

Happy Birthday To You, Happy Brthday To You Happy Birthday Dear Piero Happy Birthday To You

Lot’s of hugs, kisses and best wishes for your 24th.

Luv Ya Julie Bernache

To Piero

I know that all the members of Flight Crew and all the people that attended the Il Volo Fan Faire convention last year in Las Vegas (many of these are one in the same) wish you a very happy birthday.

May your life continue to bring great and soulful experiences. As a voice teacher and coach I am thrilled to see that your vocal craft continues to grow and you are and will continue to be a wonderful musician and a singer with great heart.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Myron Heaton Las Vegas

Dear Piero, I wish you the happiest of Birthdays. You and your partners have brought so much joy to so many people around the world. You deserve so much in return – every day and especially your own special day. It is hard to believe that you are only now, closing in on the years when the voice of a tenor is supposed to peak. Yours has been amazing for all of nine years already. You are loved by so many. Lesley Newall.

Happy Birthday Piero! You are such a tremendous singer and fine gentleman. It has been a joy to watch your career soar upwards. Enjoy your special day and the year ahead! Jane from Minnesota

Happy Day, my dear Piero! The time has certainly flown by since my first birthday wish to you. Thank you for several wonderful years of the best music in the world. I know there will be many more years of joy ahead for us all. I can’t wait to see what’s next. Love and Best Wishes, ~Marie Crider

Buon Compleanno, Piero!  Venticinque Anni!

Have a wonderful day with your family and friends!

It was so good to hear you sing and to meet you in Chicago. Your dedication and hard work was very evident in that heavenly music!

Hoping that all the love and kindness you have shown to all returns to you one hundred fold!

Auguri!    Patricia W. (@pitterpat0) – Missouri, USA

Happy Birthday, Piero! I am wishing & praying for you to have your best year yet! May this coming year bring you fulfillment, gratitude, joy, still more dreams come true, and always deeply deserved recognition! This has been another year of spectacular accomplishments, which I know bring you joy and which create sparkling happy-dances in me and all your beloved fans! Each tour year, my greatest joy is to travel to see you and your “brothers” in concert… the best vacation anyone could wish for!

Great love & happiness to you, Piero!   Jeanine DuBois

Piero~ My best wishes and adoration for your birthday from Arlene Butler in Morro Bay, CA

Tutti il meglio a Lei Piero!  La veda in Lucca …. JoJo

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO

PIERO BARON FROM

EDWARD HAWKINS

“Dear Piero,  Wishing you a wonderful 24th birthday and all the best for the year to come. Have a great time in Mexico and South America.  Kathy and John Pritchard.”

Piero,

It was wonderful to attend so many concerts in Italy and especially great to visit with you in Taormina… You made my vacation very special.. By the way, you were born on my father’s Birthday… So happy Birthday Dad and Happy Birthday to you Piero…God bless you always,

Jeannette Giglio

Happy 24th birthday!!! Hope you have a wonderful day with family and friends. 

With many wishes,

The Rosas Family

Las Vegas, NV USA

Buon compleanno Piero and with best wishes for many more to come. Have a GREAT day. Thank you for all the pleasure you give. Ciao, Marion Ferrari in Florida.

Buon Compleanno Piero !! ~~ Jean Haines

Caro Piero, Buon Compleanno!           Tanti Auguri! Have a wonderful 24th birthday!    Thank you, Piero for the pleasure & happiness your wondrous music has brought to me.  Notte Magica is a  magnificent Concert presenting  the beauty of your voice at it’s best! This year will bring many new adventures  with more awards & honors as The Flight continues to soar!    Amore,  Nonna Anne

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My Dear Piero, You are a very kind, caring ,and loving young man !!  Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the beautiful memories that have filled my heart watching you grow up, listening to your magnificent, breathtaking voice at many concerts and your sweet hugs and kisses at the M&G’s !! It is one of my biggest pleasures in life following you as you continue your incredible journey fulfilling all your dreams one by one !! I hope your birthday is as special as you are !!! Have FUN !!! 🎂🎈🎂🎈🎂 HAPPY “24th”BIRTHDAY !!!!! All My Love, Joan Brenin 💕💕

“Hugs and kisses for a wonderful 24 th birthday! May all of your birthday wishes come true!

Sandi Eyman

Dear Piero!

    Each for us has somewhere in the world some “secret love”.

    In interview you were often told that your idol is Angelina Jolie. I wish you so much personal meeting with them – Angelina comes and say to you —

    /more in song/: https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZeFFCLlX97s?autoplay=1

Friendly Zdena from Belgium

Buon Compleanno, Piero, Happy Birthday Cento Anni. A Beautiful powerful Voice in a wonderful young man. Congratulations, God Bless you, with love from Brooklyn! Vincent

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PIERO. LOVE, VICTORIA LITIZETO

Happy Birthday Piero! Love, Manola

Hope you have a wonderful birthday ~ Camille

Happy Birthday, Piero! Hope you have a WONDERFUL one! Love ~ Maimi

Tanti auguri! ~ Ineke Poisson, South Africa

Happy Birthday to the best tenor in the world!  Roxiebell

Happy Birthday Piero thank you for all the joy you bring us . I hope your birthday is filled with everyone and everything you love ~ Margaret

Happy Birthday! ~ Margaret Mirailh

Tanti Auguri!  🙂  ~ Jan Bolin

Ciao Piero!

Much love, happiness, and tanti auguri from the Detroit Il Volo Gals.  Emilia is busy baking your cake right now, but she sends her wishes and all the sweet treats to you.  We celebrate your birthday each year and hope you have as much fun as we do!  May you continue to soar above the turbulence with your 2 trusty co-pilots – Gian and Igna!

Detroit Il Volo Gals:  Jana, Lorna, Chris, Donna, Sharon, Emilia, Barb, Ginny

Piero, from these many birthday wishes, you are well-loved, the world over!

You are love!

The Flight Crew… 🙂

    Happy Birthday, Piero! "Don't Rain On My Parade" from "Funny Girl" Barbara Streisand photo credits: Bing Images HAPPY BIRTHDAY PIERO!