Original version

BBC Radio 3 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced Third Programme.

BBC Radio 3

Radio 3

Between the Ears

Documentaries

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media

Innovative and thought-provoking features on a wide variety of subjects

Innovative and thought-provoking features that make adventurous use of sound and explore a wide variety of subjects. Made by leading radio producers.

Between the Ears: Time Travelling in Italy - Finding My Religion

Time Travelling in Italy - Finding My Religion

29/06/2013

BBC Radio 3 - Between the Ears, Time Travelling in Italy - Finding My Religion

A time machine in the world's largest underground temple? Secrets of Damanhur revealed.

David Bramwell presents a portrait of the Damanhur, a community who claim to have created a time machine in the world's biggest underground temple, north of Turin.

In 1979, in the Italian Alps, a fledgling community of 28 people (calling themselves Damanhur) began secretly digging into a mountain at night. Their purpose: to build the world's largest underground temple, the equivalent in size to St Paul's Cathedral. Thirty years on, the 'Temples of Humankind' continue to grow. Despite being described as the Eighth Wonder of the World, this is not the most interesting thing about Damanhur.
Now a thousand-strong eco-community, Damanhur also claims to have conquered time travel, taught plants to sing, visited Atlantis and saved the planet from destruction. Its residents take part in bizarre rituals and regularly work throughout the night in service to the group, yet many still hold down highly-paid professional jobs in the outside world.
Is it another case of a deluded cult or has Damanhur achieved something remarkable in the cynical 21st century?
Sony Award winning presenter and musician David Bramwell (Between the Ears: "The Haunted Moustache") takes a sound journey through the community, deep into the bowels of its temple, where the Time Machine has been created, listens to a jazz singer improvise with a musical plant, and has a lesson in esoteric physics.
He also attempts to unravel Damanhur's history and purpose, challenging some of its unfeasible claims through conversations with its residents, and attempts to become a Time Traveller himself.

Producer: Sara Jane Hall
Presenter: David Bramwell

First broadcast in June 2013.

Live music and the arts: broadcasts more live music than any other radio network. Classical music is its core. Genres include world and new music, jazz, speech and drama.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Between the Ears

Time Travelling in Italy - Finding My Religion

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC Radio 3

About BBC Radio 3