Thursday, the 15th, from the large terrace of the pools, all the Guests vacationing at the AbanoRitz watched the Ferragosto fireworks: with heads tilted back and mouths agape, we witnessed extraordinary pyrotechnic displays that rose from the poolside and the surrounding large park, reflecting in the water. Each fireworks display is a precise combination of chemistry, physics, and creativity, designed to amaze and captivate the audience with rockets, cascades, candles, and fireworks shells, with spinning wheels and luminous confetti that soar as high as 300 meters.
The history of pyrotechnics, or the art and study of making fireworks for entertainment and spectacle (not for military purposes!!!), dates back to ancient times in China. Fireworks have a fascinating history that goes back over a thousand years. They originated in China during the Tang dynasty, around the 9th century, initially discovered by accident by mixing saltpeter, sulfur, and charcoal, creating black powder to ward off evil spirits. Later, their beauty captured attention in Europe as well, where they were perfected during the Renaissance. They were imported into the Mediterranean region around the 12th century by the Arabs. It was around the 17th century that the two main schools of pyrotechnics emerged: the “Italian school” of the Ruggeri family in Bologna, and the German school.
The magic of fireworks is based on a combination of chemistry and pyrotechnics. The vivid colors are obtained by mixing different metals into the pyrotechnic powder: strontium creates red, copper blue, and sodium yellow. When the powder is ignited, it lights up the sky with an explosion of colors and shapes. What we know from the pyrotechnicians is that the coloring of fireworks is achieved by adding an oxidizer and a salt to the combustible mixture (black powder), which, when sublimated, colors the flame.
Every year, my sister and I look at each other as we listen to our Customers’ comments, and every year we all agree that these are the most spectacular ever.
The truth is that skies torn apart by a thousand colors, by sound phenomena, and by luminous displays that create extraordinary choreographies are a unique magic. Pyrotechnic art has continued to evolve, remaining a symbol of celebration capable of transforming any event into an unforgettable spectacle.
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