All language subtitles for The.World.From.Above.S05E01.1080p.AMZN.WEB-DL.DDP2.0.H.264-AlfaHD_track3_[eng]

(wind whooshing)

(inspirational orchestral music)

(bright orchestral music)

(gentle music)

- Our journey
begins at the heart of Tuscany

in the hilltop city of Orvieto.

Soon after we'll discover the
town of Civita de Bagnoregio,

a medieval village frozen in time.

As we continue, we'll explore

the spectacular Renaissance
gardens of Vignanello.

After taking in the scenery
of the Tuscan country side,

we'll make a brief stop at Pitigliano,

a town with a unique history
of religious co-existence.

Finally, we'll fly over the Tyrrhenian Sea

to the famous island of Elba,

once the seat of
Napoleon's personal empire.

(gentle guitar music)
(birds twittering)

Surrounded on all sides

by the rolling green hills of Tuscany,

this imposing site is Orvieto.

Situated on a high plateau,

the ancient Etruscan's
built this fortified city

with defense in mind.

But it's strategic position,

high up on the cliffs came at a price.

The volcanic rock proved so porous,

that early inhabitants had to construct

giant underground cisterns
to collect rainfall.

Never ones to be out-classed,
the Romans went on to build

a 62 meter well through
the heart of the city,

to access a store of groundwater below.

An inscription on the well reads,

'What nature has denied, was
added by the work of man'.

But it's a structure
reaching up to the heavens

that dominates the city skyline,

Orvieto Cathedral.
(sweeping choral music)

Completed in the 1500's

and estimated to have
taken 300 years to build,

the complex celebrates
the miraculous happenings

of a passing priest on
his pilgrimage to Rome.

The priest, doubting that
the bread of the Communion

was truly the body of Christ,

he attended a mass in
Bolsena, a town nearby.

During his Communion, the
bread started bleeding,

staining a woolen cloth he was wearing.

The Orvieto Cathedral was commissioned

to commemorate that event
and give his stained relic

a permanent resting place.

(upbeat acoustic guitar music)

Just 20 kilometers South,

we come to the ancient hilltop village

of Civita de Bagnoregio.

This two and a half
thousand year old settlement

is also built atop a
plateau of volcanic stone

and was once an important
center of the ancient world.

However, time and the forces of nature

have not been kind to
the picturesque village.

The sheer cliffs which serve
as the town's foundations,

are slowly eroding away,
endangering the age-old buildings.

Only a single footbridge

connects Civita to the rest of the world

and passing through the gates of the city

has been likened to
entering another dimension.

With a permanent population
of only 15 residents,

many of whom are in
their late 80's and 90's,

it has recently experienced
a revival in tourism,

attracting those wishing to experience

a world trapped in time.

And as we travel a few valleys South,

we come to Soriano nel Cimino.

The town is best known for
its annual chestnut festival,

which celebrates the
people's united defense

against a Feudal Lord of nearby Vignanello

in the 15th century.

And speaking of Vignanello,
here we are now.

A place internationally renowned

for its Renaissance
architecture and gardens.

Overlooking the city, we can see a castle,

belonging to the Mariscotti,

an influential 16th century family.

(gentle classical music)

The first buildings here were
erected by Benedictine monks

in the 9th century and
used as a monastery.

But after it fell into the
hands of the local nobility,

the castle's surroundings were transformed

into pleasure gardens.
(birds chirping)

In fact, this is one
of the best preserved,

Renaissance gardens in
Italy, as it still belongs

to the direct descendants
of the original occupants,

who have used the same techniques

of cultivation and maintenance
for hundreds of years.

Around the central
fountain are mixed hedges

of laurel, cherry bay and myrtle.

Water had to be bought and
transported in ample quantities

from neighboring Porchiano,
to supply this terrace garden

carved from the volcanic rock.

The water flows from the
upper section through a series

of ornamental pools and passageways

to the bottom of the hill.

But spectacular villas and gardens

aren't unique to Vignanello.

A bit further South we come to Caprarola.

(gentle classical music)

And here is the towns
unrivaled centerpiece,

the Villa Farnese, named
after the noble family

that established it in 1515.

It is one of the finest examples

of Renaissance architecture in the world.

The structure owes its pentagonal shape

to its original design as a fortress.

In the years to follow,
the building was reworked

into a permanent residence
where ornament is used sparingly

to achieve proportion and harmony.

The approach to the villa from the town

is through a series of
subterranean staircases,

carved from the volcanic
rock beneath the foundations,

providing a quick escape
in case of a siege.

As impressive as the building
itself are the gardens.

Yet another significant example

of the unique Italian Renaissance style.

The architect, Vignola, chose
the hide the main section

inside a wood of chestnut trees,

so guests could 'discover' the gardens

as they went on walks.

One of the many discoveries
to be made is this casino,

designed as an outdoor area for guests

to eat and converse with their hosts.

And underneath, water flows downhill,

trickling through a series of fountains

depicting classical myths and creatures.

(birds chirping)

Italian gardens strive to
harmonize human ingenuity

with the beauty of nature
and the landscapes of Tuscany

gave the architects plenty
of inspiration to work with.

(gentle classical music)

Also attributed to Vignola

are the villa and
gardens of nearby Baniya.

The land here was originally
bought by a Cardinal

and populated with game animals,

as hunting was a popular diversion

among clergy at the time.

Then in the mid 1500's, Vignola
transformed the landscape

working with a theme of man's ability

to tame and live in harmony with nature.

Unlike other estates of the time,

the houses were small and unimposing,

so the owners wouldn't be criticized

for leading a lavish lifestyle.

A wide variety of water
features uniting aesthetics

and mechanical perfection display

the engineering skills of the architect.

Some hidden fountains even
showered unfortunate guests

who inadvertently
triggered the mechanisms.

Indeed, water played a
central role in these gardens,

as did classical mythology.

Something the Cardinals of the time

seem to be even more
acquainted with than theology.

Many of the statues in the fountains

are made of the surrounding volcanic rock,

which darkens when wet, a
deliberate aesthetic choice.

(birds chirping)
(soothing classic music)

As we move West towards the sea,

we come to Montefiascone.

Situated beside Lake Bolsena,
the city's highest point

was once the site of a
grand Papal residence.

Now a ruin, it provided safe
haven to a number of Popes,

whose elections were opposed

by the people of Rome in
the 13th and 14th centuries.

Gradually the fortress,
so rich in history,

fell into abandonment and became

a quarry for the construction
of adjacent buildings.

And on the Western side of Lake Balsena,

we come to Valentano.

Like much of Tuscany
during the Renaissance,

the city was under the rule of
the powerful and influential

Farnese family in the
14th and 15th centuries,

when most of its fortifications
and churches were built.

As we make way over
Westward toward the ocean

we come to Pitigliano.

Like many of the other towns we visited,

it's built upon volcanic cliffs,

which have been chiseled over the years

into caves and townhouses.

But what makes Pitigliano stand out

is its notable Jewish history,

for which it has come to be known

as Italy's Middle Jerusalem.

When the Papal State set stringent

and oppressive laws against
Jews in the 15th century,

the Hebrew population of Italy appealed

to independent duchies for refuge.

The aristocratic Orsini family,
in charge of Pitigliano,

welcomed the refugees with open arms

and the new population
soon established itself.

An extraordinary friendship
thrived between the Christians

and Jews, so strong was their unity,

that the local Jewish contingent

were defended by the city's residents

against angry Christian mobs
during the Napoleonic Wars.

And also during the anti-semitic
fervor of World War II.

Sadly, the Jewish presence
is now mostly historical.

(birds chirping)

And a mere eight kilometers
away, we come to Savona,

a village with little
more than a single street

running from the castle ruins at one end,

to the cathedral at the other.

Although quaint and
unobtrusive in modern times,

this hilltop township was
once the administrative seat

of the Lombards, a Germanic
tribe that ruled Italy

after the fall of the Roman Empire.

(gentle classical harp music)

Beneath dramatic skies,

we spot Montemarano in the distance.

An ancient city,

still enclosed within
its 15th century walls.

The coastline draws ever closer.

(seagulls calling)

And we reach the water of the intersection

of the Ligurian Sea to the North

and the Tyrrhenian Sea to the South.

And here we find the charming
fishing village of Talamone,

looking out over the silver coast.

The settlement is named
after the Greek hero Talamon,

uncle of Achilles who is
said to have sailed here

from the Southern coast of Italy.

In fact, the entire stretch is resplendent

with such mythic history.

For the ancient Greeks
believed that these cliffs,

rolling into the Tyrrhenian
Sea, house the four winds,

kept by Aeolus, their master.

And this yacht still harnesses those winds

as it glides between the seven islands

of the Tuscan archipelago.

A mecca for divers,
bird lovers and boaters,

these seaways have been frequented

by invaders and traders
for thousands of years,

leaving enduring traces

of their various
civilizations behind them.

It's said that when Venus was
born out of the foaming waves,

the pearls of her headband
were spread about the sea

and formed the seven
island of this archipelago.

The largest and most famous
of these is this one,

the Island of Elba.

Strategically placed along
naval and trade routes,

it's been the object of conquest

for Mediterranean powers for millennia.

(birds chirping)
(somber orchestral music)

But there was something else

that also drew invaders to Elba's shores,

its vast mineral wealth.

For the Etruscans and Romans,

the island represented an
inexhaustible supply of iron

for their ever-expanding empires.

And situated on a large cape
in the South is Capoliveri,

historically one of the island's
more active mining centers.

But is it no longer for the iron

that foreigners are drawn here

but rather the ruolling,
unspoiled countryside

and endless historical relics

spattered about across the hills.

As we move back towards the coastline

we come upon Porto
Azzurro, also a settlement

originally famous for its
wealth, minerals and mines.

But again, the main trade
these days is tourism.

Its permanent population is
around three and a half thousand

but that number jumps significantly

during the tourist season
as boats full of Europeans

unload on these shores.

The city dates back to the 1600's

when the Spanish occupiers
built a fort on the headland.

Thereafter it was named Longoni
until after World War II

when the residents changed the name

to celebrate the bay's
bright, azure waters.

Remains of Roman villas and thermal baths

and the ruins of ancient
Christian hermitages

can be found in the areas
around the dazzling port.

Across from Elba's mountainous interior,

on the island's Northern shore is Bagnaia,

renowned for the beauty of its beach.

(gentle orchestral music)

The town lies at the
foot of Mount Volterraio,

the site of a fortress so formidable

that it was never conquered by any

of the island's many assailants.

It's said that the mountaintop
fortress is haunted

with the ghosts of the
many fallen competents

who fought for the town
and that their voices

can still be heard
echoing off the hillsides.

Perhaps that's why most
visitors stick to the bay.

(gentle classical music)
But if the ghosts of the past

are too harrowing, one can
always catch the water taxi

further 'round the coast
to what is perhaps,

Elba's most famous city, Portoferraio.

As part of Napoleon's
conditions of surrender in 1814,

he was made the official Emperor of Elba

and given full reign over the island

with a contingent of one thousand men.

He chose this city as his seat of power

for his brief, ten month rule.

Upon his arrival, he plunged
into action installing drains,

reforming the legal and education systems,

modernizing agriculture
and building a road network

that remains in place today.

But still, this little empire
wasn't enough for Napoleon

and in the early months of
1815, he began a new campaign

that would end with his
ultimate defeat at Waterloo.

It's true that Napoleon's leadership

propelled Portoferraio into modernity,

making it the most important
settlement on Elba.

But the city's beginnings
as a thriving center

preceded the arrival of the French Emperor

by many hundreds of years.

It had always been rich in
iron and the many rulers

were continually worried about protecting

the vast reserves situated nearby.

This fort, built on the highest hill,

was constructed in the mid 16th
century by the Medici family

to guard against the
dreaded Barbary Pirates

that patrolled the
region for easy pickings.

The city was without doubt,
the best fortified on Elba.

(gentle music)
Almost all visitors

to the Tuscan Islands arrive by boat.

Although airports like this one do exist,

they're only open to small aircraft.

But it is this relative inaccessibility

that has kept the archipelago

so pristine after all these years.

Each of the seven islands is prized

for their unique climate,
wildlife and history.

(gentle classical music)

Around 7,000 hectares of protected land

preserves the memory of
ancient man's long traditions

of mining and the endless
power plays and warfare

of more modern eras.

Almost every country in
the region has laid a claim

to these strategic islands at least once;

Germany, England, France, Spain, Italy

and the countless bands of pirates,

struggled and vied for a chunk
of these precious islands.

Indeed, all across this
wilderness are relics

that give away its past.

Ancient dwellings of Christian hermits

are scattered about the rocks,

Roman bathhouses dot the mountain roads,

crumbling stone bastions
and defensive towers

rise up out of rugged forests.

Elba's highest point is Mount Tabernacle,

whose jagged peak soars
to over a thousand meters.

(sweeping orchestral music)

And following one of the mountains spurs,

takes us to the small hilltop village

of Poggio, overlooking the sea.

(gentle acoustic guitar music)

Tucked away in land, this place
was safe from pirate attacks

for most of its history and
has come to be highly regarded

as a rejuvenating and inspirational site.

Its reputation was cemented by Napoleon

who'd often travel up here to
bathe in the healing waters

of the springs surrounding the village.

(birds chirping)

With narrow streets, not at all
conducive to motor vehicles,

this town more than any other in Elba

has preserved its Medieval charm.

And following the shoulder
of Mount Tabernacle

even further downwards, we
come to the town of Marciana,

located on the Western end of the island.

It's perhaps most famous
for its still standing,

ancient housing, which were
built from the pink granite,

abundant in the area.

The enclosure of the marina here,

is of typical Italian style

and attracts hundreds
of yachters every year

to maw during the Summer months.

(gentle classical music)

And the next bay to the West
is the gulf of Procchio.

The area was important in Elba's past

as a manufacturing center which processed

the iron and copper
mined in other regions.

Although lacking a marina,

this bay is also popular with tourists,

not least, because of its
beautiful pebble beaches.

And at the head of one of the gulfs

most beautiful stretches of shoreline

stand the Hotel del Golfo.

Surrounded by blue waters on one side

and lush pine forest on the other.

It has its own private beach with a pier

for mooring small boats

as well as a large
saltwater swimming pool.

It is said that in the
distant, mythical past,

the small pebbles of
the beach were all white

but when the argonauts stopped here

on their quest to find the golden fleece,

the sweat from their bodies
stained the stone gray and blue,

the color they are today.

In fact, the entire Northern coast of Elba

is replete with white, sandy bays

and is with a little reluctance
that we head off the island

and back toward the mainland.

(tugboat motors churning)

This stretch of water has
been a bustling shipping lane

for thousands of years, with
goods heading back and forth

between the mainland
and the Tuscan islands.

Never before has the contrast between

the natural beauty of this region

and modern world been so stark.

(gentle orchestral music)

It's quite unlike our final destination,

a tiny, uninhabited island
where a long abandoned building

almost appears to have
grown from the rock itself.

The ancient tower, built
by the kingdom of Pisa

hundreds of years ago
on this limestone cliff

pays testament to the many
forces that have shaped

the rich and diverse history of Tuscany,

making this mysterious island

the perfect place to end this journey.

(sweeping orchestral music)