ITALY: A Tale of Two Villages

The prosperous villagers of Spilamberto in North Italy raged with frustration when they looked down on the neighboring village of San Cesario. One might have thought the shoe would be on the other foot: Spilamberto's 3,500 people thrive on the yield of their vineyards, their orchards, and their explosives factory; San Cesario's 1,500 citizens live on lower ground, where the uncertain waters of the Panaro River often overflow into the vineyards and the groves of apple and cherry trees. But San Cesario has what Spilamberto wants: a small bronze cannon with a broken breech. Last week, Spilamberto was suing San...

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