To celebrate the one year anniversary of our podcast, we have decided to tackle another stereotype linked to our beloved homeland, the one that paints it as a serene place, where the living is easy and people are always laughing. When foreigners think that Tuscany is like that, we locals get annoyed very quickly. Sure, you can find places like that around here but never forget that this land of ours was forged by centuries of wars, fought with unparalleled savagery. The mean streak in our national character was also the result of a threat that may surprise many foreigners, that of pirate raids. Way before finding their place in the world consciousness on the warm seas of the Caribbean, pirates were the scourge of the Tuscan seas for many centuries. If the Americas had Blackbeard, the Jolly Roger and many legends, around here there were pirate captains that would put them to shame. The stories of Musetto, Barbanera and Dragut Reis are so remarkable to have forever changed the mindset of the people that live in the islands off the coast of Tuscany. Surviving the Turkish terror made them stronger, harder, with a penchant for gallows humour and a taste for foods that seem to be taken from a North African cookbook. This week we will tell you their remarkable stories, the legends that spawned out of their raids and the many myths that surround their lost treasures. Let us know what you think of this episode by dropping a message on our social media accounts. Every feedback is greatly appreciated!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/larno.it
Twitter: @arno_it / @WhatsupTuscany

LINKS TO SOURCES (ITALIAN ONLY)
https://www.quinewselba.it/isola-d-elba-pirati-allelba-tra-leggende-misteri-e-luoghi.htm
https://parentesistoriche.altervista.org/vichinghi-italia-ix-secolo/#:~:text=Il%20contesto%20in%20cui%20avvennero,e%20Bj%C3%B6rn%20Fianco%20di%20Ferro.
https://corsaridelmediterraneo.it/musetto/
https://www.cagliarimag.com/storia/nuraghe-diana/
https://www.mucchioselvaggio.eu/FOTO_D8/dimenticata/12_la%20leggenda%20di%20luceri/index.php
https://tuttatoscana.net/curiosita-2/a-capraia-la-leggenda-di-un-cercatore-di-tesori/
https://www.repubblica.it/online/cronaca/elbamare/elbamare/elbamare.html
https://www.isoladelba.online/storia/il_terribile_cinquecento.asp
https://www.quinewselba.it/isola-d-elba-pirati-allelba-tra-leggende-misteri-e-luoghi.htm
http://www.instoria.it/home/pirati_isola_elba.htm

BACKGROUND MUSIC
Title: The Family Breaks
Artist: Pipe Choir
Source: www.pipechoir.com
License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
Link: https://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/p-c-iii-the-family-breaks-creative-commons-instrumental