Then again, I’m probably not quite the commune’s target
audience. Since opening in 1975, it has attracted all manner
of visitors – including celebrities such as Sting. Most come to
escape the bustle of the real world, or just gawp in wonder –
you can even pop in for a day visit.
I was staying over, however. That night, I’m invited to a
nucleo-community for dinner. En route, we pick up a small,
older lady,
Vongola
(
Italian for Clam). A crimson moon
hangs above and Vongola sits in the back nattering about
late-1970s Damanhur – an era when Falcon was into psychic
research. Levitations were commonplace, she claims, and she
herself discovered that she had previously been a librarian
in Atlantis. As the car careens past hairpin bends and
precipitous don’t-look-down gorges, I can’t help feeling this
drive is a horror movie waiting to happen.
When we finally arrive at the house, 20-odd people are
gathered around a long table, including one chap taking a
vow of silence and an American couple interested in “time
research” (they relinquished Hollywood/Broadway careers
to move here). Nucleo-communities are self-sufficient,
so we dine on vegetable soup made from the garden.
Damanhurians were early adopters of ecological living, and
were using solar panels and recycling 30 years ago.
It’s just like any other dinner party until somebody
mentions past lives. Suddenly, the room is crowded with
former Zulu chieftains, French barons and Irish peasants.
Before leaving, I ask to be anointed an animal name. “I think
you’re a seabird,” says Monkey. Like a gannet? “Yes.”
Gannet. Not Eagle, Kestrel or even Osprey (admittedly,
Falcon has possibly cornered the bird-of-prey thing here),
but a bird most famed for greedily guzzling large quantities
of fish. Crestfallen, I head for home, spiritually as bankrupt
as ever, but slightly missing the maverick folk who revel in
dreaming to much…
damanhurwelcome.com
Turin
need to know
(
10
)
number of days of CioccolaTò, Turin’s
chocolate festival, from 22 February
(
18
km
)
length of colonnaded
walkways in the city
(
1899
)
year the Fabbrica Italiana Automobili
Torino (Fiat car factory) was founded here
easyJet
flies to Turin from London Gatwick. See
our insider guide on page 132. Book
online at easyJet.com
easyJet Holidays
Seven nights B&B at the three-star
Astoria hotel in Turin, departing on
9
March, costs from £249 per person.
easyJet.com/holidays*
La Magnolia
On a hilltop 4km outside Turin, rooms
have views of the garden and surrounding
hills. Book at hotels.easyJet.com
*
FOR T&CS SEE P157
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T H E C H A L L E N G E
T U R I N
