on ethical and spiritual values, Damanhur promotes a culture of peace and equitable development through solidarity, volunteerism, respect for the environment, art, and social and political engagements. Being 90% self-sustaining, Damanhur has received world-wide recognition for its innovative approach to life and received the United Nations sustainability award in 2005. Damanhur’s foundation is its location: it is situated in the Piedmont region of northern Italy about 50km north of the city of Turin. It is located in the foothills of the Alps in the Valchiusella valley, bordering on the Gran Paradiso National Park. Its location was chosen because it is the site where four synchronic lines intersect. These great rivers of energy are said to connect the planets of this universe and flow around our planet Earth carrying thoughts and ideas. The only other place in the world where four synchronic lines meet is Tibet. Every year, thousands of people visit Damanhur to experience the social model and study the philosophy, but what sets Damanhur apart from other eco and spiritual communities is the depth of their research into the arts, health and medicine, ecology, 'Selfica and Spiritual Physics', plus their greatest, ever-growing achievement, the Temples of Humankind. Often called the 'Eighth Wonder of the World,' the Temples were dug by hand into the stone mountain by the people of Damanhur. The vision of Damanhur was born with Oberto Airaudi, also known as Falco — Damanhurian citizens take on animal names to symbolise their willingness to renew themselves through a playful attitude and to recognise their profound contact with nature. It all began with a dream Falco had when he was about 10 years old. The physical manifestation of this dream started towards the end of the 1970s when Falco and a group of 13 spiritual researchers found the perfect place in which to begin their social experiments. Today, Damanhur Federation of Communities counts 1?000 citizens and friends in Valchiusella, as well as centres, citizens and friends in many countries around the world. The Federation is comprised of nuclear communities with around 20 people living in each of them. Friends of Damanhur live in the surrounding valleys and regularly participate in federation activities. Community life encourages the creation of a social model based upon solidarity, respect for others and the environment, and the sharing of ethical and spiritual values.
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ounded by a group of visionaries in Italy, 1975, this incredible eco-society is now home to over 1? 000 like-minded citizens. With foundations firmly based
Life in action – action through play – play integrated into life
A centre for spiritual, artistic, and social research known throughout the world, Damanhur practices a philosophy based on action, optimism and the idea that every human being lives to leave something of
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