Traveler's Guide to Damanhur, The Format: Paperback

Ecotourism, spa retreats, and spiritual travel are more popular than ever, catering to increasing numbers of travelers who want to learn and grow while vacationing. Damanhur, Italy’s famous center for art, culture, peace studies, and community building, is poised to become a major destination for such tourists. The Traveler’s Guide to Damanhur is divided into three parts, each focusing on a different aspect of visiting Damanhur and its renowned Temples of Humankind. Part one covers practical information on Damanhur and the essentials of traveling in the surrounding Piedmont region of Italy, including details on transportation, lodgings, places to visit, restaurants and wineries, shopping; classes, workshops, festivals, and other public events; and recommended spa treatments and massage therapists. In part two, the history of the Damanhurian community is given a fun treatment in a comic book insert that puts it in a mythic context, linked to Earth and the Galaxy.

Rounding out the guide are the personal story of author Stambecco Pesco, one of the first Damanhurians, and travel profiles and essays by friends of Damanhur—Massimo Introvigne, director of the Center for the Study of New Religions, anthropologist Richard Grossinger, and others. Esperide Ananas is Damanhur’s Communications Director. Stambecco Pesco is editor in chief of the community’s publishing house, Val Ra. Artist Cinzia di Felice is a well-known graphic novelist. Illustrators Ape Soia and Pangolino Tulipano collaborated on artistic projects for more than 20 years, including art for the Temples of Humankind. All live in Damanhur.