Talia

Talia is the primary setting of the Stravaganza series and exists in a parallel world to the contemporary world of 21st century England where many of the protagonists of the books come from. 
Talia is a country on the continent of Europa and resembles Italy during the Renaissance. Few other countries are known in the parallel world aside from Talia; Anglia is mentioned as the equivalent of England and Gallia (Gaul) is the equivalent of France. The parallel world is actually several hundreds of years in the past in contrast in the world where the protagonists come from; as of City of Ships, the year is 1580. Stravaganti are the few people who can travel between the worlds by aid of a talisman.
Talia consists of twelve city-states, major cities that control smaller surrounding towns. Six of the city-states are under the control the di Chimici family under the Grand Duke of Tuschia. The remaining city-states are independent. All city-states have an equivalent city in Italy, though their locations may have been shifted, and the Tuschia region is the Talian equivalent of TuscanyCity of Swords, Historical Note.
Talia has two main religions, the Reman Church and Goddess Worship, and it is quite common for people to practice both religionsGuide to Talia.
==Cities==
City-State 	Appellation 	Italian Equivalent	Other notes
Bellezza 	City of Masks 	Venice 	Main setting of City of Masks
Montemurato	City of Towers 	Monteriggioni 	
Padavia 	City of Words 	Padua 	Main setting of City of Secrets
Volana 	City of Music 	Ferrara 	
Bellona 	City of Dreams 	Bologna 	
Fortezza 	City of Swords 	Lucca 	Main setting of City of Swords
Classe 	City of Ships 	Ravenna 	Main Setting of City of Ships
Giglia 	City of Flowers 	Florence 	Main setting of City of Flowers
Moresco 	City of Mermaids	Pisa 	
Remora 	City of Stars 	Siena 	Main setting of City of Stars
Romula 	City of Dragons 	Rome 	
Cittanuova 	City of Fire 	Naples 	
Talia.gif|A map of Talia
bellezza.gif|A map of Bellezza|link=http://stravaganza.wikia.com/wiki/Bellezza
remora.gif|A map of Remora|link=http://stravaganza.wikia.com/wiki/Remora
City state emblems.png|Emblems of the city-states
==Differences from Italy==
There is a number of differences between Talia and Italy. The most significant difference known occurred during the fight between the twin brothers Romulus and Remus. While in Roman mythology, Romulus killed his brother in combat and went on to found Rome, in Talia, Remus was victorious. Remus would found the city of Remora, which became the capital of the Reman Empire, near where Siena is situated in Italy. Romulus, who survived his fight with Remus, migrated south to found the city of Romula, the Talian equivalent of Rome.
Further differences between the worlds can be noted in the politics and religion of the country of Anglia, the counterpart of England in the Talians' world. Henry VIII of Anglia had three surviving children by his only wife, Catherine, thus never having reason to split from Reman Church as his English counterpart did. His son, Edward VI, was eventually succeeded by his two full sisters, Mary and Elizabeth.
Talia is in some ways more advanced then Italy was in the late 1500s. Talians enjoy alcoholic beverages like Strega and Prosecco and have cultivated the potato and tomato as well as importing coffee and chocolate but they don't have tobacco.A Note on Talia, City of Masks
==Language==
When a Stravagante from England speaks in Talia, the Talians understand them and the English Stravaganti can understand them (as if they speak and understand Talian, without knowing the language) and vice versa when a Talian is in England. However, Lucien Mulholland and the other English Stravaganti hear William Dethridge differently; because Dr. Dethridge's variation of English is several hundred years older than their version, he appears to sound old fashioned to them.City of Masks And if an English Stravagante were to speak in Italian, the Talians would understand them but the English Stravagante would have a strange accent (they would sound futuristic)Stated by Mary, see here. As Lucien discovers when he visits Venice, being aware of Talian linguistic forms is useful for understanding some Italian, though it does not mean that Lucien knows or fully comprehends Italian.
==Notes and References==
Category:Location
Category:Talia