The Hill of Venus

The story opens on a summer solstice in 1266, when the fading light bathes the rolling hills of Basilicata in crimson and gold. A solitary rider, Francesco Villani, a court‑trained page of twenty‑five, guides his horse through olive groves, willows and the shadowed cliffs that ring the Garigliano. As he passes humble shrines and a throng of fervent pilgrims, the air fills with jasmine, styrax and the distant echo of the Angelus, hinting at a deeper summons that will draw him toward the cloisters of San Cataldo.

The tranquil landscape soon gives way to a sense of purpose, as Francesco’s contemplation is broken by the sight of a distant cross and the whisper of an ancient sacrifice. The narrative weaves together medieval devotion, the weight of prophecy, and the palpable tension of a world poised between fading daylight and encroaching night. Listeners are invited to follow his journey into the heart of a mystic valley where faith and destiny begin to intertwine.