Ossigeno

44 45 Although it originated in China as an ancient hybrid between the pomelo and the mandarin, the orange is said to have arrived in Europe by the hands of Portuguese sailors: unsurprisingly it is often referred to as portogallo in Italian dialects, just as in Greek it is called πορτοκάλι [pronounced portocáli ]. Nevertheless, there is a sweet orange tree in the cloister of the Convent of Santa Sabina on the Aventine Hill in Rome, which, according to legend, was imported and planted by Saint Dominic from his Iberian homeland around 1220 AD. Some consider this to be the first orange tree to have been transplanted to Italy. A miraculous orange tree, one which would continue to bear fruit throughout the centuries from new trees, born again upon the first after it had died. Whether Portuguese or Spanish in origin, today the cultivation of oranges in Italy accounts for about 60% of total citrus fruit production. An adult tree produces about 500 fruits every year. Those with a blond pulp, such as the ovale [“oval”], the biondo comune [“common blond”], the navelina and the Washington navel coexist with others which have a red pulp, owing to the pigments which they contain, such as the moro [“moor”], the tarocco and the sanguino [“blood red”]: some are large, while others are more modest in appearance, all with a thin skin, making them ultimately more suitable for juicing because they are full of liquid pulp. Among the latter, it is worth mentioning the Sicilian blood orange PGI. The orange is a low-calorie fruit, with 34 calories per 100 grams of juice, and is rich in vitamin C. The pigmented red flesh contains approximately 87% water, many minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, potassium, iron selenium and vitamins such as A, B1 and B2. With a low sugar content and many salts, it helps combat fatigue and is recommended for diabetics. Oranges contain bromine and magnesium, useful for maintaining a balanced nervous system, and contain antioxidants which soothe intestinal and gastric disorders. Ludovico Ariosto enthusiastically praises citrus fruits and oranges in Orlando Furioso, passing through « Cedar, and orange, full of fruit and flower, / Myrtle and palm, with interwovenspray, /Pleached inmixed modes, all lovely » [«amenissime mortelle, cedri, et naranci / ch'avean frutti et fiori cotesti / in varie forme e tutte belle»]. Centuries later, Guy de Maupassant would describe scenery rich inorangeorchardsand their scents in his book, Sicily: « A continuous breath rises from the scented forest, a breath that intoxicates the mind [...]. That smell that envelops you suddenly, that blends the delicate sensation of perfumes with the artistic joy of the mind, plunges you for a few seconds into a mental and physical well-being that borders upon happiness ». Another illustrious Frenchman, René Bazin, goes so far as to say that « during certain hours, the inhabitants of Monreale are forced to close their windows so as not to breathe in the air which is overly charged with fragrances ». Nevertheless, Torquato Tasso delivers the best testament to this heavenly tree that nourishes the bodies of both men and women: « Oranges live a fleeting existence / with eternal flowers, an eternal-lasting fruit» [«Fugaci mai vivon gli aranci / coi fiori eterni, eterno il frutto dura»]. arancia - Tav. 002 Pencil on paper, 2018 Carlo Pastore for Ossigeno