Alessandra Belloni

Internationally renowned singer, percussionist, teacher  Alessandra Belloni - Remo Artist proudly announces her   TOUR OF THE SACRED SITES OF THE BLACK MADONNA IN SOUTHERN ITALY   THE VOYAGE OF THE BLACK MADONNA  August 4rd - 15th, 2016  

Voyage of the Black Madonna

AFTER THE GREAT SUCCESS AND MAGICAL EXPERIENCE OF LAST SUMMER I am very happy and proud to announce that I will be leading THE SECOND pilgrimage to the sacred sites of the Black Madonna in Southern Italy!! Also featuring writer, archeologist and Egyptologist Armando Mei as our guide in Naples.

This special musical tour will start from Rome's airport in the morning of August 4th- returning to Rome's airport the night of August 15th.

See details below  PLEASE NOTE THAT YOUC NA PAY BY CHECK and will have WEPAY BUTTONS AVAILABLE SOON. I am offering a special $ 75 discount for early bird registrations. 

DEAR FRIENDS around the world:

Last summer I led the first tour of the Sacred Sites of the Black Madonna in Southern Italy, and it was one of the most powerful and beautiful experiences in my life and for everyone on the tour.

Every day of our tour was magical indeed, with people showing up to meet us by surprise- musicians, writers, even meeting people I had not seen in many years!

I realized that nothing was a coincidence, but seemed to have been planned by the GREAT MOTHER!     

  

JOIN ME FOR THE THIRD BLACK MADONNA  PILGRIMAGE 2016     

 Itinerary:

I will take people on the same journey as last year, as I have done over  many years as devotion to the Black Madonna, which inspired me to write the Folk Opera THE VOYAGE OF THE BLACK MADONNA in 1990, together with my music director John La Barbera. I am happy to share with you a very personal journey which will transform your life!

 

We will visit the following places and Black Madonnas: August 5th Madonna Nera della Neve, Torre Annunziata    ,  spectacular feast along the sea near Sorrento/Pompei on the Amalfi Coast. In the late afternoon we will watch the re-enacment of the fisherman fishing the Black Madonna found in a large cage in the sea. It is spectacular and very moving as she is connected to the Goddess Aphrodite. We will also do a ritual chant on the beach at sunset, a Medieval prayer to the Black Madonna.  

August 6th  :  Visit to Black Madonna of Positano, also by the Sea, a beautiful Byzantine Icon, also connected to Aphrodites. Positano is one of the most beautiful towns of the Amalfi coast, and we will spend the day there. As last year I will lead a beautiful ritual of purification in the sea, with white flowers, drumming and chants, all dressed in white and blue we will honor the Madonna del Mare, Aphrodites/Yemanja in the Afro- Brazilian tradition. 

  August 7th Led by writer/archeologist Armando Mei, we will Visit Pompei. 

The Temple of Isis is a testament to Egyptian influence over Roman religion. In Pompeii is preserved one of the most important temples dedicated to the Goddess Isis, in south Italy. Armando will focus on the connections between the origins of the Great Mother Culture and its evolution along the millennium. A travel through Ancient Sumerians and Egyptians Myths, among the ruins of the most famous ancient town of POMPEII. 

NIGHT OF AUGUST 7th

We will meet the well known tammorra maker Raffaele Inserra from Gragnano and the old singer, Zi Giannino, 84 years old, and the young one Gianfranco, for a great feast at the great restaurant il Vigneto where we will play and dance, and people will have a chance to learnt he authentic tammorriata.

August 8th we leave for the Black Madonna of Montevergine     -  also known as Mamma Schiavona (Serving Mother) spectacular sacred Mountain near Avellino- (beautiful mountain region called Irpirnia). This is the most important of the seven sisters, ancient site and temple of the goddess Cybele, Black Mother Earth Goddess from Anatolia. We will go the famous throne (a special rock in the mountains called Seggia della Madonna ) where healing miracles happen, where last year many people had a very powerful mystical experience. Up in the sanctuary we will  play the tammorriata drumming and sing for her. WE will also enjoy the great local food and wine, as we rest in the restaurant up the mountain.  

  This region is called Irpinia and we will visit several powerful sites here:

      August 9th - Black Madonna in Moiano, near Benevento, 

the powerful, beautiful MADONNA DELLA LIBERA,       the one I am most devoted to and have personally received a miracle from her, she is the most magical!  Also an ancient site of the worship to the Goddess Isis.Last year I had an incredible break down and felt reborn after asking her to free me from sad moments of the past. Many people had the same experience! In the chapel we will also chant her traditional   songs, that I learned from the old women of the town during the procession.      

 

August 10 

– LA MADONNA NERA INCORONATA DI FOGGIA (Puglia land of the tarantella! ) new this year. We will travel to the  famous  Tavoliere delle Puglie, a beautiful landscape of agricultural land, to the Sanctuary of this mysterious Madonna Nera with the GOLD CROWN who appeared in the year 1001 in very magical way. While shepherds were working in the field 2 bulls ran away to a Tree (OAK TREE) and kneeled down, as lightning and fire appeared for a long time. Suddenly  a voice was heard saying I AM MARY MOTHER OF GOD! And I want my temple build here ! And he Beautiful Statue of the Black Madonna Nera appeared right in the tree. And she made many miracles , also with a special anointing oil that always burns at here image and never goes out. We will stay at the beautiful Hotel Novelli ****, with  spa and Jacuzzi in the room! And great food! This will be the perfect  spot for a moment of reflection of the  pilgrimage and group sharing, and Alessandra will ask  each one to share their feelings and emotions before  a closing drumming ceremony. – LA MADONNA NERA INCORONATA DI FOGGIA (Puglia land of the tarantella! ) new this year. We will travel to the  famous  Tavoliere delle Puglie, a beautiful landscape of agricultural land, to the Sanctuary of this mysterious Madonna Nera with the GOLD CROWN who appeared in the year 1001 in very magical way. While shepherds were working in the field 2 bulls ran away to a Tree (OAK TREE) and kneeled down, as lightning and fire appeared for a long time. Suddenly  a voice was heard saying I AM MARY MOTHER OF GOD! And I want my temple build here ! And he Beautiful Statue of the Black Madonna Nera appeared right in the tree. And she made many miracles , also with a special anointing oil that always burns at here image and never goes out. This will be the perfect  spot for a moment of reflection of the  pilgrimage and group sharing, and Alessandra will ask  each one to share their feelings and emotions before  a closing drumming ceremony.

   August 11/12 LEAVE FOR CALABRIA!! My favorite land! 

We will stay in the beautiful town of Tropea, in a hotel with great food and a breathtaking view of the beach and active volcano STROMBOLI!  There we will finally have a couple of days of rest on the beach, swimming in the turquoise sea very similar to Hawaii. In Calabria we will meet and feast with my  good friend and tarantella teacher Vittorio de Paola and have dinner and party in his beautiful restaurant on top of the mountain with a great view of the sea. This was a highlight of last year's tour!

      August 14 we will go to the  feast of the Black Madonna di Seminara, Madonna dei Poveri,     celebrated with a wild drumming ritual, reenacting an ancient fertility rite, and giant Puppets that dance to the fast 6/8 rhythm of the tarantella (Giganti).   Last year everyone was enchanted by the powerful rhythms of African origins, and seeing the giant puppets of the African King Courting the Italian Queen, thus bringing together these two cultures.

 

August 13, we will honor the Black Madonna del Tindari

on the Day of the Assumption, her feast day     . This is a magical place, where the Madonna del Tindares (Ethiopian name) was found in cave under the mountain, which we will visit, by enchanted lakes of salt water, and a beautiful turquoise sea, where we will do a purification ritual.  The Madonna looks like an African Totem and is inside the church on top of the mountain, with the inscription Nigra Sum Sed Formosa (I am Black and Beautiful). Next to the church we will visit the archeological site that has the temples of Demeter and Cybele and drum  as we watch the most spectacular sunset over the sea.

      A great feature of this tour is the local folk traditions, the music of the tarantella the dancing, and the fantastic food, all fresh prepared according to the regional traditions, and the most amazing wine!! As we enter the favored land of Dionyus, god of Ecstasy and Wine!

    I was also blessed to bring my old friend and teacher of tamburello, tammorra maker, Raffaele Inserra, from Gragnano. We had an unforgettable night with him and the old singer, Zi Giannino, 84 years old, and his young apprentice, Gianfranco, at the great restaurant il Vigneto where we danced, drummed, ate, and drank lots of fantastic wine from Gragnano- one of the best in the world! We will repeat this powerful experience which is a treasure in the field of Ethnomusicology!

The cost of the tour is $2,700 if we are 12 people -- or $2,800 if we are 10 people 

This does not include airfare and lunch as we will be moving around during the days. but includes: 1)  Hotel accommodations, double occupancy, 4 star hotels,  2)  Breakfast and wonderful dinners in very good restaurants and hotels, 3)  Tour bus 4)  Ferry boat back and forth to Sicily 5)  My work as your    leader with lectures on site, leading drumming ceremonies, chants  and rituals in appropriate locations.

Please note that I will need a registration fee of $150 by to ensure your participation and to have the tour operator secure the hotels. The total deposit of $840,      which  is 30% of $2800 (if we are 10 people) is needed by May 20 and the remaining of the total amount due 30 days before the tour starts (July 4)

PAYMENT SCHEDULE Due  February 1 - $150 Registration Fee (Non Refundable) Due May 30 - $690 tour Tuition Due July 4 - $1,960 (if 10 people register; $1,810 if 12 people register)     You can also pay by check made to Alessandra Belloni and send it to:  Alessandra Belloni 1111 River Road  Apt G33 

Edgewater NJ 07020