The legendary... World of the Park! 2026 Calendar The story begins like this... ...an inspiration on an August night, gazing at the stars and thinking of the Milky Way and its etymology linked to ancient Greek mytho - logy. From there, the idea begins: it is born, grows, and then becomes reality, because milk has always fermented alongside myths and legends. A magical universe that transforms into a journey through time around the world of cheese, populated by shepherds and gods, artists and sailors, queens and cheesemakers... this is the 2026 calendar of “IL PARCO”. You will discover how cheese is more than just food: it is tradition, history, roots, but also magic. Milk is a bridge between humanity and mystery; cheese holds the soul of time. Its origins date back to distant times, crossing worlds, cultures, and the tables of every people, bringing with it flavor, aroma, and an aura of mystery that only ancient legends can preserve, nourishing not only the body but also the soul. The stories that accompany each month of this 2026 “Il Parco” Calendar tell how cheese is a symbol of what ignites the imagination and keeps alive the memory of an ancestral passion. The same passion of a man who, for years, was said to have milk flowing through his veins instead of blood. He transformed his craft into an art, passing it down to us with great love and one of his pearls of wisdom: “Together we can go far!” So said our legendary Grandpa Peppe! And this, however, is not a legend: it is the beginning of our adventure. Now, bon voyage to everyone around the “Legendary World of the Park!” Acknowledgements: The “Legendary World of the Park” would never have been what it is today without its fantastic helpers! It’s therefore our duty to thank our adventure companions who made the 2026 “IL PARCO” calendar unique. First and foremost, the children and their families, our faithful allies! People like Nicola, Francesco and Grazia, Lucia, Tina, Filomena and Michele, Andrea and Annalisa, Raffaele and Valeria, Ilaria, Giusi, Carlo, Angelo, Matteo and Graziana, Martina and Paolo, Diego and Luisa from Sartoria Shangrillà, Deliana, Aurora and Leti - zia, Pina and Federica, Angela and Mimmo’s butcher shop in San Giovanni Rotondo, Chef Max from Tenuta Chianchito, Giuseppe from Chichino Pane, Masseria Macerone, Alberto from Pastificio Elite, Pasticceria Dolci Tentazioni, La Frutteria, Tipografi Dauni and Vitto - rio... and all those actors on stage and behind the scenes, young and old, visible and invisible (even on the COVER!) who are not only an integral part of the project but indispensable figures for the success of this work... of art, friendship, and incredible magic! We thank all the “fabulous creatures” who contributed to the realization of this legendary feat, masterfully guided by Grazia, Dino, and Francesca! Columbus and the Dawn of a New World Court chroniclers narrate that, upon returning from the New World, Christopher Columbus was welcomed triumphantly by the Spanish monarchs, who were astonished by all the wonders the great navigator had discovered and brought them as gifts. And we’re not just talking about the gold, the natives, and the animals of the overseas forests, but above all, fruits unknown to European eyes, including potatoes, corn, cocoa, pineapple... and finally, TOMATO! The aromas spread and the tales began... Columbus recounted his exploits and how his men, to remain steadfast in spirit and strength, lived on Cacio e Pepe, a humble and proud dish made only of hard pasta, crushed pepper, and aged cheese. Then, to a surprise never before seen at court, Columbus unveiled another marvel: CAPRESE! It se - emed as if the sun and the moon had met on the same table... a white pearl called MOZZARELLA, a gift from the buffaloes of Southern Italy, kissed by the red fruit of the West, the tomato. It was then that the chroniclers wrote: “It was not the conquest of lands, but the fusion of tables... that changed the destiny of the world forever.” The Pyramids: the Masterpiece of Pharaoh Snefru Before the desert sands learned the names of the pyramids... before men discovered that immortality could be built... there was a Pharaoh who dedicated his entire life to the search for the perfect form of eternity. His name was Snefru, father of the more famous Cheops, followed by Chephren and Menkaure, the rulers who commissioned the three famous Pyramids of Giza; it became a family tradition! But Snefru was no exception and had not one, but three pyramids built. He wanted to attempt the impossible to achieve the perfection of a monument capable of defying time. First came the rhomboid pyramid, then the stepped one, but all the efforts of the venerable Imennak, the Pharaoh’s architect, were in vain: Snefru was not satisfied. Divine inspiration was needed, so the venerable man prayed to his favorite goddess, the divine Bastet, protector of cats, to He was so dear to her. She granted his wish, and it happe - ned during a solar banquet: before the Pharaoh, Sacred Ricotta, food of the Gods, was served, fashioned in ceremonial linen baskets, candied, shiny, and perfectly tilted toward the sky. Snefru looked at it and said to his architect: “Until now, you hadn’t brought me a pyramid, only geometry. This one, however, speaks to the sun; it is the perfect form!” Thus was born the oldest of the pyramids we SA N GIOVANNI ROTONDO know of in Egypt: the success of an extraordinary project, a symbol of the greatness of ancient Egyptian civilization. Pure magic For centuries, legends and folklore have told that the inhabitants of the Little People have always had a strange passion for milk and dairy products. Indeed, stories of fairies and elves often revolve around stolen milk, mysterious milkings, and enchanted cheeses... The question is: what did they do with all that stolen milk? British folklore provides a simple answer: they drank it and, with the remainder, made magical cheeses! With a wave of a magic wand, the milk transformed into delicious cheeses, from blue to aged, from soft to every other variety their imagination could conjure up: round, small, large, square... what a spectacle! But fairies and elves weren’t just mischievous and ingenious sprites: to atone for their nocturnal pranks, they would hang various wheels and pieces of their homemade cheeses from the trees in the forest. Legend has it that travelers lucky enough to find and eat them were instantly blessed with good fortune! How can we explain the secret of milk fermentation that mysteriously transforms into cheese? Pure magic... The Queen of Pizzas The sun was shining golden on the Royal Palace of Capodimonte when the royal carriage made its entrance. The white horses pawed the ground, and the procession parted into two wings of people as Queen Margherita of Savoy, flanked by King Umberto I and the young Prince, arrived at the Palace. The entire neighborhood trembled with joy at the sound of the bells, and it was decided that, to honor the Sovereign, a banquet worthy of the ancient capital of the Kingdom would be prepared. The best chefs in Naples were sum - moned. Before the Queen, kneeling proudly, the three chosen ones presented themselves: the fisherman, with the fruit of the sea; the macaroni maker, with the steaming pasta; and him, the pizza chef, holding a round marvel, a very simple pizza: a red veil of tomato, melted white buffalo mozzarella, and three basil leaves, green as hope... the colors of the new Italy. The aroma was song, the shape was sun. And just then it happened: a street urchin, agile as a cat, in a single leap grabbed a whole pizza and clutched it in his arms, ready to flee. It is said that the Queen was unfazed; in fact, she laughed: “If the people took it, then it’s truly delicious! This pizza will bear my name: Pizza Regina Margherita!” Leonardo da Vinci: Genius in the Kitchen, Too It is said that, during the years when Leonardo da Vinci served Ludovico il Moro not as a painter or engineer, but as a master of ban - quets, as a great lover of the culinary arts as he was, he was fascinated by the habits of the workers on the Sforza Castle construction site. He observed how the stonemasons, too busy to sit at the table, would enclose meat, herbs, and cheese between two slices of flat bread and continue working without stopping. He then noted: “Eating must not stop thinking.” The idea germinated in his mind with brilliant rapidity. Thus was born an experiment: filling a soft bread with the most authentic vegetables, the most flavorful creams, the noble Treccia di Bufala, bound together by the most golden olive oil. He proudly served it to Ludovico as if it were a work of art, to be observed as much as eaten. And so, in legend, the panino was yet another invention of Leonardo’s genius, designed to amaze and delight both eyes and stomachs, without wasting time. A food that doesn’t claim a throne, but follows it! “Bread, love, and imagination” Tradition has it that, in a small village in Puglia, lived a housewife named Carmela. Every day, her house smelled of freshly baked bread, because her husband, Pasquale, was the best baker in the village. One afternoon, Pasquale, after a long day of work, fell into a deep sleep, his belly swollen and rounded like a small mountain of flour. Carmela, on the other hand, had to prepare food for the family, but the pantry was almost empty. Just a few leftover bread dough, some mozzarella, tomatoes, basil, and oil. With ingenuity and creativi - ty, she took the dough, rolled it out, filled it with whatever she had, and carefully closed it, forming a soft, round crescent. When she was finished, she looked at her sleeping husband: the shape really reminded her of Pasquale’s round, blissful belly! With a smile said, “From today, this crescent moon will be called... PANZEROTTO.” Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, leftovers transformed into deliciousness with so much love... even today, panzerotto inspires dreams with every bite! The Gift of the Gods According to Greek mythology, before man learned to master fire and milk, the Gods of Olympus feasted on foods no mortal could ever have imagined. Among these, the most sacred of all was the Divine Buffalo Mozzarella. The delicate art of shaping milk into pearls of dawn was the work of the Water Nymphs, silent creatures who danced among the rivers and streams where the most ancient buffalo grazed. The Gods, fascinated by the purity of that art, chose a single mortal to whom they would bestow the “white secret”: Aristaeus, son of rural wisdom. He was guided by a luminous Nymph in the sacred act of cutting, which transformed the milk into white spheres like newborn moons. And it was during a Celestial Banquet that the Gods, joyful, free, and radiant, moved by the joy those “living pearls” brought, decided to share the same food with all humans. They approached a man and a woman and presented them with the most sacred celestial mystery. They welcomed it in ecstasy, knowing that from that moment on, even on Earth, the Divine Buffalo Mozzarella could be savored. The Joy of Sicilian Celebrations It is said that, among the hills and carob trees of Sicily, a skilled cheesemaker was famous for his mastery of Caci Figurati, those cheeses that were small masterpieces ready to decorate the holidays. While he worked, with expert hands, he also taught his children the art of transforming milk into delightful delicacies! The children’s hands shaped the cheeses into funny and extraordinary shapes, the scent of fresh milk and their laughter filling the valley. Mixing play and work, each different cheese became a small spell of joy. Meanwhile, the cheesemaker’s wife guarded the most ancient traditions: she welcomed passersby, sacred and legendary figures, who apparently stopped to admire and bless the cheeses before they were carried to adorn the festive Sicilian floats. Each figurative cheese carried with it the scent of the land, of family, and a piece of legend. Since then, it is said that whoever tastes a cheese during a celebration eats not only cheese but stories, laughter, and a touch of childhood. Long live the newlyweds! Many years ago, in a small village in Puglia, there lived a cheesemaker named Donato, famous for his skill in working milk. His daughter, Lucia, was getting married, and Donato wanted to give her a special gift: something that would bring luck, joy, and abundance to her marriage. After days of thinking and trying, Donato had a brilliant idea. He made a huge burrata, bigger than any he’d ever seen, and filled it with fresh cream. But the real surprise was hidden inside the burrata: instead of the traditional stracciatella, he placed many tiny mozzarella balls. On the wedding day, everyone was left breathless when, as the large burrata was cut, the mozzarella balls began to fall out, like little surprises ready to jump into the guests’ hands. The children gathered around the table trying to catch them, while the adults admired the ingenuity and beauty of this new creation. The burrata was called “Figliata” because it symbolized luck, abun - dance, and prosperity: each small mozzarella was like a wish for the newlyweds’ future, and the abundance of cream represented the wealth of affection and joy that would accompany them throughout their lives. Intertwined Love Once upon a time, in a distant kingdom, there was a beautiful Princess named Alba, famous for her long golden hair, braided every mor - ning like a work of art. The day came when the King and Queen summoned suitors from every corner to marry their daughter: princes, knights, nobles of the East... each bearing dazzling gifts: caskets of gems, embroidered silks, offerings of gold... But Princess Alba’s gaze lit up only when she saw Iacopo, a humble young peasant dressed in simple cloth, who knelt before her. He offered her neither gold nor crowns, but a splendid braid of fresh mozzarella, pale and pure, made with his own hands. His dedication to honoring the perfect shape of her braided hair moved the princess far more than his wealth. Since then, in that kingdom, it is said that the noblest gift is not that which dazzles, but that which resembles the heart of the recipient. And so it was that, at every solemn banquet, a regal Buffalo Braid was always placed at the center of the table, a reminder of that love. Grow and multiply In a small village nestled among ancient olive groves, it was said that every birth was a happy event, worthy of a celebration that could unite the entire community. It was customary, when a child was born, that the large family would receive the gift of Caciocavallo, a special cheese that had the power to protect the newborn from all evil and to attract joy, health, and prosperity. Whoever tasted even a small piece of that cheese, they said, would be blessed with a pure and courageous heart. Over the years, the legend became a tra - dition: families would gather, children would play and laugh among caciocavallo cheeses and lavishly laid tables, with Don Antonio’s blessing! And it is said that even today, in villages where this tradition survives, seeing a caciocavallo cheese given as a gift to a newborn signifies the beginning of a new era of happiness and good fortune for the entire community. The Secret of the Vikings Even today, in the most remote villages of Norway, some whisper that the true power of the Vikings came not only from fire, discipline, or swords, but from their food and their ancient loyalty to the milk of their herds. Before battle, their banquets featured not wine, but “the strength of milk.” Northern mothers did not wean their children on bread, but on milk, butter, and cheese. This explained their massive build, physical endurance, and even their dazzling teeth: the secret lay in the calcium in the milk, the fat in the butter, and the proteins in the cheese. The spears bounced off the warriors’ bare arms, and the blows did not bend their knees. Hence the rumor, which later became legend, that the Vikings fought not with fire... but with milk from the mountains of the North! Milk was their silent weapon, butter their armor, cheese their store of immortality! And so, amidst the frost and storms, the “white strength of the North” became the most ancient secret of the sons of Odin. Any reproduction, even partial, of parts, photos, or text contained in the calendar is strictly prohibited.