by Marco Visconti

Vienna Cammarota she is the first woman to follow in the footsteps of Marco Polo for the “Silk Road”, a term coined in the 19th century by the German geographer and traveler Ferdinand von Richthofen. Vienna Cammarota lives in Cilento, near the Cilento National Park. He’s 72, but he claims he doesn’t feel the weight. He loves to follow in the footsteps of singular characters of the past such as Goethe and, this time, Marco Polo. They wait a few months before leaving and now he is refining his knowledge of the peoples he will meet.

Vienna, when did the idea of ​​retracing Marco Polo’s route come about?

«It is born at the very moment in which Goethe’s one ends. When Goethe’s journey ended, I wondered what are you going to do? I replied to follow in the footsteps of Marco Polo. Then I gave substance to this idea. I chose this path to get to know, that we believe we know them, and I wanted to tease the women of Southern Italy who think life is over when they have completed their social life after being students, mothers, wives, grandmothers and great-grandmothers. . Why can’t we dare beyond this social thinking? I want to tease women who are my age. So you need to understand that there are other things too. Someone tells me leave your daughters, grandchildren, but I say that every now and then you have to abandon your loved ones, but with this I don’t forget them, because taking care and being constantly with them becomes harmful for them, as space is not left for them to choose what to do in specific circumstances, so it is right that my daughters and grandchildren are also free to choose, just as I was free ».

What is the path you will take to reach China?

«I pass through the Balkans, then Slovenia, Serbia, Croatia, etc., I will arrive in Turkey then I will go to the territories of the former USSR. In fact, Marco Polo embarked on the ship and arrived in Istanbul. However, he arrived in the Constantinople area on horseback; I will go on foot! Right in the Middle East I will find the real “Silk Road”, where here there were ancient buildings that allowed merchants to stop and restore. Now that I think about it, even in Sicignano there was a crossing point where there were the old taverns, old arcades, in short, there were places of rest and refreshment for travelers ». What do you hope to find through this journey? «When I meet a person on my way, I don’t let them pass until I have known them first. I always introduce myself, so I hope to find above all the human encounter. In the places I visit I love to chat with people. Since I will go to areas where I am not up to the point of knowing English, I am making an effort to speak other languages ​​and I am also learning the culinary traditions of some countries ». When will it leave? “I will leave at the end of April, after April 25th. Why April 25? I believe in democracy, also because I always carry the tricolor with me. From an artisan I made the tricolor crochet, from a goldsmith I had the earrings made with designs of the various colors of silk, so that recalls the path to take. I always try to carry something with me that makes me remember Italy ». How long do you think it will take to complete the journey? “I have given myself a 3-year deadline, but I know myself and am able to stop in a place I like and stay there for a long time to learn all there is to learn”. This is not the first time you have traveled long routes, is it? “No. In fact, I embarked on Goethe’s itinerary as it was described in his” Journey to Italy “. When I was retracing Goethe’s places and comparing what he wrote with what is now, I became very angry because not all places present works dedicated to him. Some countries have forgotten him. This is a shame because he gave a very detailed description of his journey. “When did he start the journey?” I did the journey in 2017 , I stopped in winter, then I took it back in 2018, traveling the whole of Sicily, as Goethe did. I completed the trip in 2018 ».

What were your feelings when you followed in Goethe’s footsteps?

«I easily get excited about certain things that I rediscover. I must say that emotions always come out. When I happened to see plaques, Goethe’s thoughts did not limit myself to reading or seeing them but also to trying to relive them ». This itinerary could be annoying due to any obstacles that could be encountered in the border areas, as there are specific rules to contain the spread of Covid-19. What do you think of the Green pass and the vaccine? “I’m for the Green pass and the vaccine. Generally they are not for vaccines, in this case we need them and therefore follow the directives of the scientific world and also of the government. We need to get vaccinated and we do it. We are not doctors ». Is age a burden for you or is it the burden of age that led you to discover the world? «Sometimes I am ashamed to say my age, because I have youthful ways of doing things, of thinking. It is absolutely not a burden on the contrary it is an advantage because, during my journey, I am everyone’s mother. I am anxious to help each other and I have really done it in some countries that I have visited ». I happened to see plaques, Goethe’s thoughts did not limit myself to reading or seeing them but also to trying to relive them ».
This itinerary could be annoying due to any obstacles that could be encountered in the border areas, as there are specific rules to contain the spread of Covid-19. What do you think of the Green pass and the vaccine?
“I’m for the Green pass and the vaccine. Generally they are not for vaccines, in this case we need them and therefore follow the directives of the scientific world and also of the government. We need to get vaccinated and we do it. We are not doctors ».
Is age a burden for you or is it the burden of age that led you to discover the world?
Sometimes I am ashamed to say my age, because I have youthful ways of doing things, of thinking. It is absolutely not a burden on the contrary it is an advantage because, during my journey, I am everyone’s mother. I am eager to help each other and I have really done it in some countries that I have visited.

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