“The Starry Night” is one of Van Gogh’s masterpieces. Before this painting, stars had never been so intense and visionary. But you don’t have to go to the Museum of Modern Art in New York to admire them. Just head out into the countryside, away from sound and light pollution, and enjoy the silence and the night. Starry skies have been protected by UNESCO since 2007 because they are threatened by too much artificial light and lifestyles that demand people and cities are always connected and ‘switched on’. But getting a good night’s sleep is important, especially for your health. Because according to recent studies, especially those presented by international researchers at the Pisa Sleep Award 2022 symposium, if you sleep well, you live longer.
LOOK UP
So a good night’s sleep starts with a starry sky. If you’re not sure where to go, take the advice of the experts, like those of the Starlight Stellar Park who have certified the most beautiful night skies in the world. In Italy there is the valley of Saint-Barthélemy, a mountain village in the municipality of Lus which is home to the scientific research and cultural centre of the Astronomical Observatory of the Autonomous Region of the Valle d’Aosta. There is also the astronomical park of Gal Hassin and the Chiesa Santissima Annunziata in Isnello in the Madonie mountains in Sicily. Astronomitaly, a website for astronomy enthusiasts, certifies “The most beautiful skies in Italy”, listing the best places for stargazing and astrotourism, where you sleep in accommodation kitted out for observing the night sky. Like mountain refuges in Trentino or the Belluno Dolomites, or the Oasi di Zegna, a natural park in Piedmont which organises special astronomy evenings with walks to spot falling stars. But if you want a good night’s sleep, as well as there being no pollution, there mustn’t be any noise. The international Quiet Parks association has selected parks throughout the world where the silence lowers our level of cortisol, the stress hormone. The Accademia del Silenzio (Academy of Silence) in Italy does something similar, inviting its members to take part in contemplative activities like writing, listening to music, painting and meditation. Some of the quietest destinations in Italy are the Marche, Umbria and Tuscany with their monasteries, castles and abbeys.
CREATING THE RIGHT ATMOSPHERE
At home it is important to create an environment that is conducive to sleep. Your bedroom should be quiet, dark, well-ventilated and between 18 and 20 degrees. Choose the right mattress too: in latex if you tend to toss and turn during the night, with springs if you don’t move much and sleep on your back, which is the best position because it keeps your spine aligned and stops your muscles contracting and you getting a sore neck. And, before you turn in, there’s nothing better than a sauna to detox your organism, purify your skin and release endorphins which help sleep and relaxation. Saunas are made of top-quality wood and you almost feel you’re in a fragrant conifer forest. And if it’s an outdoor sauna, you can also look at the sky through the windows. The best way to restore your sleep-wake cycle.
