Russian television and radio broadcasting network. Digital television coverage area: how to determine that you are in it

Multiplex is a package of several digital channels, broadcast on the same frequency. The number of channels in a multiplex may vary, but RTRS digital packages include 10 television channels. The first multiplex also includes three radio channels. The second multiplex broadcasts only 10 TV channels. TV channels are transmitted in standard SDTV definition. Despite the assurances of some unscrupulous marketers, the transmission of TV channels in HDTV format (high definition television) within the framework of terrestrial broadcasting digital broadcasting not yet produced. However, the vast majority of those sold on the market digital set-top boxes and TVs support HDTV format. This means, at the moment when RTRS decides to launch broadcasting in high definition format, viewers will not need to replace or upgrade their equipment to view it.

Reception of channels from the first multiplex is available in the vast majority of populated areas in Russia. Broadcasting of the second multiplex is carried out mainly only in cities with a population of 50 thousand people or more. However, the range of many television towers in flat terrain conditions it often reaches 100 kilometers, so if you have a good antenna, both multiplexes can be received even at a considerable distance from the city. By the end of 2018, the launch of both multiplexes is announced on all RTRS towers, the number of which has already reached several thousand. Please note that peripheral towers, which are located in small settlements, broadcast only digital signal. Often, residents of such villages do not even suspect that the TV tower is located “nearby” and even an indoor antenna and a DVB-T2 receiver are enough to receive channels.

Channels of the first and second multiplexes

The first multiplex RTRS-1 includes the following channels: Channel One, Russia-1, Match TV, NTV, Channel Five, Russia-K, Russia-24, Karusel, OTR, TV Center.

Channels included in the second multiplex RTRS-2: RenTV, Spas, STS, Domashny, TV-3, Pyatnitsa, Zvezda, TNT, MuzTV.

So let's begin.

Briefly about digital terrestrial television

What is “digital television”? I immediately send all those who are thirsty for technical details to . And for everyone else, in a simple way: this new TV broadcast format, which allows you to transfer television signal in a fundamentally new quality, without interference, with a bunch of additional information, for example, with . And it is already available almost everywhere in our country! And you didn’t know) I only recently found out about it.

How is this better than a regular analog signal?

What does this mean for simple user? The picture obtained using this type of transmission will be free of interference and also clearer(if you have a modern TV with a Full HD matrix), compared to regular analog TV. In addition, you will immediately catch , depending on what your local television stations are broadcasting, and .

Don't be confused digital terrestrial television, for example, with . By digital terrestrial television we mean exactly what is transmitted through towers over the air, and not through cables. This site is dedicated specifically to digital terrestrial television.

What do you need for digital?

And you don’t need to buy expensive equipment for this. It’s enough to buy for a thousand or one and a half thousand, and that’s it. However, you may not even have to buy it. First digital programs I caught it with ordinary “horns” that you probably have at home. True, it was in the city center, a couple of kilometers from the Television Center. Yes and in many modern TVs Receivers for digital reception are also already being installed.

These primitive “horns” caught all 20 channels in the city center at once

And no subscription fee! This is true!

Digital television in Russia

All this may seem like some kind of scam, but it is not. In fact, digital television is already available in many countries, and now in Russia they have begun to make progress. Moreover, there is an entire federal program to equip the territory of our country with terrestrial digital TV towers. And it has existed since 2009. During this time, a great many digital towers were built, using budget money, of course) So, if you live near or in a large city, then you probably already have such a tower installed. By 2015, they promise to cover all of Russia with digital technology.

Digital television formats

Digital television in Russia broadcasts in the format DVB T2 . You don't even need to know what it means, but remember the acronym, especially the two at the end. This will come in handy when you need a suitable set-top box for receiving digital signals. Initially, broadcasting was carried out via DVB standard T, but today it is considered obsolete. So, make sure you don't get confused) The set-top box or TV must support the standard DVB broadcasts T2! Look for this logo on the box:

What do they even show there?

Digital TV in Russia really free, at least the first ones that are currently broadcast. For further, new channels may be introduced subscription fee. But for me, even these twenty are above the roof. Here's what's there:

This is what the “digital” broadcasts in Russia for October 2014

What else do you need to know about digital?

What else? Digital terrestrial television either it goes or it doesn't. Unlike the usual way transmissions where you can catch an image with noise, the quality is either there or not. The exception is " friezes"(from the English "freeze" - freezing) - this is when the image crumbles into cubes, or freezes. This happens when your signal is not strong enough, or atmospheric and weather phenomena interfere. Fortunately, set-top boxes have indicators of signal quality and intensity, which allows us almost always.

This is roughly what a “frieze” looks like

The main website about digital television is rtrs.rf

This is the official government website on this topic. This is where all the news is posted, as well as the addresses of service centers that will help you and so on.

To be continued

But don’t rush to leave my blog, because the fun begins next! In the following articles I will tell you how to do it in your home without resorting to the help of professionals, and what to do.

By the way, do not confuse terrestrial digital television (which is distributed over the air) with cable digital television (which your provider transmits to you via cable). This is a site about terrestrial TV, although it’s also about cable TV, but that’s a completely different story.

Hello, dear readers! This article will be a very necessary addition to those articles on this site that described how to choose and configure an antenna, look for them in the “Television” section

The following questions will be discussed here - the answers to which will help you correctly point the antenna and configure your TV or set-top box to receive digital terrestrial channels with the least difficulty.

This information will be especially useful for those who live in areas where it is not so easy to catch a digital terrestrial television signal.

What do you need to know in order to choose the right antenna, stronger or simpler, and configure it?

• Determine the direction from which to receive the signal.
• Find out whether you need to try to configure 20 channels from the selected tower or only 10 are possible for now
• To know which television channels are being broadcast in order to be able to configure the TV/set-top box in the “Manual search” mode, this will allow you to visually see the level of the received signal and accordingly adjust the antenna in the best way.
• Know the distance to the transmission tower.

Finding out all these questions is not at all difficult. To do this, you need to go to the official website of the Russian Television and Radio Broadcasting Network.

To get to the page we need, follow this link and get to the map image page.

In the card field there is search string in which you need to enter the name of your locality, even sparsely populated areas are usually determined. When you enter the name of the area in the drop-down window, you can immediately see the locality and the region to which it belongs.

Having selected the desired location, the map takes you to the specified area.

For example, consider the settlement of Prokhorovka in the Belgorod region.

On the map, green symbols indicate working transmitters, and if in your case there are also symbols marked in black, then this means that this tower is under construction.

But this information is still not enough for us.

Let's click on the red cursor showing the location of Prokhorovka. And we will see a new, more informative window.

The information in this window tells us in which locality and at what distance the nearest transmitters are located, at what television channel(TVK) they broadcast, and we find out how many TV programs can be watched from these TV towers. To do this, pay attention to the status of the station.

IN in this example only ten, since they broadcast only the first multiplex i.e. 10 programs on 43 TVCs. The second multiplex is in standby mode, i.e. it is not broadcasting yet, but is planned.

On the right top corner map is located additional panel control, by turning on the “Broadcast zones” “TVC, frequency” functions, you can display on the map in the form of colored fields which zone a particular broadcaster covers and at what frequency it operates in this zone. (TVK number)

There are still a few useful buttons left. This, zooming in the lower right corner, is sometimes useful to more accurately determine the location where the tower is located, even down to the address.

In some cases, on the map you can see blue or other colored circles with a number inside, these numbers indicate the number of transmitting stations in that area, zooming in will correct and detail the situation.

And in the upper corner there are two buttons, one of them is turned on by default “RTRS 1 TV channel package” so we see the towers that broadcast the first digital package (multiplex)

And if you switch to “RTRS 2 TV channel package”, then the towers transmitting the second multiplex will be reflected accordingly. Let's see how the picture changes.

As you can see, you can watch all twenty channels in Prokhorovka only from two TV towers located in Belgorod and in the Stary Oskol area.

Let's summarize: In the settlement of Prokhorovka, chosen as an example, you can confidently receive signals from towers located 10 km away. (Kozhanov) and 22 km. (Rozhdestvenka).

It is likely that signals from these towers can be received with a good indoor antenna. Much depends on the location of the place where the antenna will be located, whether it is surrounded by high-rise buildings, whether the path of the signal is blocked by a forest wall standing almost close to the antenna, take into account the terrain.

All this affects which antenna to choose, what height to raise, where to point.

But there's another one important point, the fact is that these nearby towers are still transmitting signals of only one packet. This means that you will only be able to watch 10 programs. I want all 20)

There is an alternative! Belgorod broadcasts all channels and if you use a good outdoor antenna, then you can confidently receive signals from both packages from this TV tower. If you look at the map, you can see that the broadcast from Belgorod is on channels 43 and 46. - It would be nice to also estimate the distance to it.

How to measure distance on Yandex map

Sometimes the service map suggests the towers closest to you that have not yet been completed or broadcast only 10 channels, as in the example considered. But a little further you can independently find towers that operate in full mode. And you need to determine the distance to them. How to do this? Very simple!

You need to open Yandex Maps in a new browser window. For example, as in the figure below, or through a search engine.

In the map that opens, type the name of our locality. For example, I’ll also type Prokhorovka. It will be necessary to reduce the scale of the map, so that the place from which we plan to receive the signal is in sight, for me it will be Belgorod. And further, attention! Look at the picture below and read the procedure.

Actions in order.

1. Use the minus button on the map to reduce the scale.
2. Click the “ruler” icon to activate it.
3. Click on necessary points. Belgorod
4. Prokhorovka
5. A line and a pointer with a straight distance will appear between them. In our example, 49.2 km.

Now we know everything we need! Tower broadcast channels from Belgorod are 43 and 46. This will allow you to use a manual search, and in this mode you can visually observe the signal level and find the correct antenna position.

The distance to Belgorod is 49 km. Taking this into account and also local peculiarities relief and other things, we can already figure out which antenna will be suitable for us. It's obvious that indoor antenna It won’t help here, you need something more serious.

How to set up an antenna and TV for digital television when different conditions signal is possible

So, using the described service and Yandex maps, you can easily find out all necessary information in order to successfully set up digital television at home.

If you have any questions, write in the comments.

If you have anything to add, write there. And don't forget to press the buttons social networks— if you found the article useful! Share with your friends! Thank you!

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Material from Wikipedia - the free encyclopedia

"Russian television and radio broadcasting network" (RTRS) is a Russian state-owned company, operator of the country's on-air television and radio transmission network. Full name - Federal State Unitary Enterprise "Russian Television and Radio Broadcasting Network". Headquarters - in Moscow.

The “Russian Television and Radio Broadcasting Network” was founded by Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 1031 of August 13, 2001. RTRS is included in the list of strategic enterprises of Russia.

RTRS is a full member of the DVB Project consortium.

General manager- Andrey Romanchenko.

Broadcast network

Terrestrial television and radio broadcasting in the regions of Russia is carried out by 75 republican, regional and regional radio and television transmitting centers (RTTC), which are regional branches of RTRS. The analogue broadcasting network of RTRS operates 16,500 transmitting devices, including 14,000 television transmitters and 2,500 radio transmitters, over 8,000 antenna mast structures, of which 7,163 antenna supports are more than 30 meters high. The height of 703 pillars and towers exceeds the hundred-meter mark. RTRS operates 180-meter towers built according to project 3803 KM. The most famous Russian TV towers included in the RTRS network are: Ostankino TV Tower, Shukhov Radio Tower, St. Petersburg TV Tower and Novorossiysk TV Tower.

In connection with the construction of a terrestrial digital terrestrial television network, RTRS is modernizing old and building new antenna mast structures and towers in all regions of Russia.

Activity

Digital television

In 2012, by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 287-r dated March 3, 2012, the DVB-T2 standard was recognized as a unified standard for digital terrestrial television in Russia. Since 2012, RTRS has been building digital terrestrial television networks only in the DVB-T2 standard. Transfer of the digital terrestrial television network operating since 2010 DVB-T standard to the DVB-T2 standard was completed on January 15, 2015 throughout Russia. Broadcasting in the DVB-T2 standard in Russia is carried out only by RTRS.

Since 2012, in major cities of Russia, RTRS has been opening Consulting Support Centers (CSC), where you can get information and advice about digital on-air television. RTRS also organized a federal 24-hour call center for digital terrestrial television issues, free of charge for subscribers. At the same time, RTRS presented a trademark for digital terrestrial television in the form of a butterfly.

RTRS is the only broadcast operator of the first, second and third multiplexes of digital terrestrial television throughout Russia.

In digital terrestrial television, the first and second multiplexes are called RTRS-1 and RTRS-2.

The first multiplex RTRS-1 and the second multiplex RTRS-2 in digital terrestrial television are free, not encrypted and open (FTA) for reception, without using a conditional access system throughout Russia.

In 2013, RTRS began broadcasting the second multiplex RTRS-2 in Russia.

On January 15, 2015, RTRS began broadcasting an “additional multiplex” in Moscow and the Moscow region.

RTRS will produce parallel digital and analogue terrestrial television broadcasting until 2018.

Digital television services

RTRS through digital terrestrial television DVB-T2 provides free services: standard definition television SDTV, digital radio, stereo sound, subtitles, teletext, TV guide, time and date synchronization with digital television broadcasting.

Planned services

RTRS plans in the future to provide services through digital terrestrial television DVB-T2: high-definition television HDTV, ultra-high-definition television UHDTV, interactive hybrid television in the HbbTV standard, Dolby Digital sound, multisound (choice of broadcast language), public address system, access to the government portal services (“Electronic government”).

Public address system

Digital broadcasting

RTRS hosts digital radio broadcasting on digital terrestrial television DVB-T2 of the all-Russian radio stations Vesti FM, Radio Mayak and Radio Russia as part of the first multiplex RTRS-1.

Performance indicators

The number of employees is more than 17 thousand people. According to the company, revenue in 2005 amounted to 7.2 billion rubles. (in 2004 - 5.9 billion rubles), net profit - 191 million rubles. (RUB 102 million).

List of RTRS branches

• Altai Regional Radio and Television Transmission Center
• Amur Regional Radio and Television Transmission Center
• Arkhangelsk Regional Radio and Television Transmission Center
• Astrakhan Regional Radio and Television Transmission Center
• Belgorod Regional Radio and Television Transmission Center
• Bryansk Regional Radio and Television Transmission Center
• Vladimir Regional Radio and Television Transmission Center
• Volgograd Regional Radio and Television Transmission Center
• Vologda Regional Radio and Television Transmission Center
• Voronezh Regional Radio and Television Transmission Center
• Far Eastern regional center
• Transbaikal Regional Radio and Television Transmission Center
• Ivanovo Regional Radio and Television Transmission Center
• Irkutsk Regional Radio and Television Transmission Center
• Kaliningrad Regional Radio and Television Transmission Center
• Kaluga Regional Radio and Television Transmission Center
• Kemerovo Regional Radio and Television Transmission Center
• Kirov Regional Radio and Television Transmission Center
• Kostroma Regional Radio and Television Transmission Center
• Krasnodar Regional Radio and Television Transmission Center
• Krasnoyarsk Regional Radio and Television Transmission Center
• Kurgan Regional Radio and Television Transmission Center
• Kursk Regional Radio and Television Transmission Center
• Lipetsk Regional Radio and Television Transmission Center
• Magadan Regional Radio and Television Transmission Center
• Moscow regional center
• Murmansk Regional Radio and Television Transmission Center
• Nizhny Novgorod Regional Radio and Television Transmission Center
• Novgorod Regional Radio and Television Transmission Center
• Omsk Regional Radio and Television Transmission Center
• Orenburg Regional Radio and Television Transmission Center
• Oryol Regional Radio and Television Transmission Center
• Penza Regional Radio and Television Transmission Center
• Perm Regional Radio and Television Transmission Center
• Primorsky Regional Radio and Television Transmission Center
• Pskov Regional Radio and Television Transmission Center
• Rostov Regional Radio and Television Transmission Center
• Radiotelevision transmission center of the Jewish Autonomous Region
• Radiotelevision transmission center of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic
• Radiotelevision transmission center of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic
• Radiotelevision transmitting center of the Republic of Adygea
• Radiotelevision transmitting center of the Altai Republic
• Radiotelevision transmission center of the Republic of Bashkortostan
• Radiotelevision transmitting center of the Republic of Buryatia
• Radiotelevision transmitting center of the Republic of Dagestan
• Radiotelevision transmitting center of the Republic of Ingushetia
• Radiotelevision transmission center of the Republic of Kalmykia
• Radiotelevision transmitting center of the Republic of Karelia
• Radiotelevision transmitting center of the Komi Republic
• Radiotelevision transmission center of the Republic of Crimea
• Radiotelevision transmitting center of the Republic of Mari El
• Radiotelevision transmitting center of the Republic of Mordovia
• Radiotelevision transmitting center of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)
• Radiotelevision transmission center of the Republic of Tatarstan
• Radiotelevision transmitting center of the Republic of Tyva
• Radiotelevision transmitting center of the Republic of Khakassia
• Radio and television transmission center North Ossetia-Alania
• Radiotelevision transmission center of the Chechen Republic
• Radiotelevision transmitting center of the Chuvash Republic
• Ryazan Regional Radio and Television Transmission Center
• Samara Regional Radio and Television Transmission Center
• St. Petersburg Regional Center
• Saratov Regional Radio and Television Transmission Center
• Sakhalin Regional Radio and Television Transmission Center
• Sverdlovsk Regional Radio and Television Transmission Center
• Siberian regional center
• Smolensk Regional Radio and Television Transmission Center
• Stavropol Regional Radio and Television Transmission Center
• Tambov Regional Radio and Television Transmission Center
• Tver Regional Radio and Television Transmission Center
• Tomsk Regional Radio and Television Transmission Center
• Tula Regional Radio and Television Transmission Center
• Udmurt Republican Radio and Television Transmission Center
• Ulyanovsk Regional Radio and Television Transmission Center
• Ural-Siberian regional center
• Chelyabinsk Regional Radio and Television Transmission Center
• Yaroslavl Regional Radio and Television Transmission Center

Moscow branch of RTRS

“Moscow Regional Center” is the Moscow branch of the Federal State Unitary Enterprise “RTRS”, which has been providing television and radio broadcasting in Moscow and the Moscow region since April 1, 2002. Includes the following objects:

• Shukhov Radio Tower (not used for broadcasting)
• 6 radio centers:
  • Radio center No. 1, Pushkinsky district, pos. Forest
  • Radio center No. 3, Taldomsky district, village. Northern
  • Radio center No. 6, Podolsk district, village Romantsevo
  • Radio center No. 7, Orekhovo-Zuevsky district, village. Avsyunino
  • Radio center No. 9, Elektrostal
  • Radio center No. 13, Balashikha (withdrawn from the MRC)
• 3 radio and television transmission workshops:
  • Workshop No. 1 RTPS, Volokolamsk
  • Workshop No. 2 RTPS, Zaraysk
  • Workshop No. 3 RTPS, Shatura
• 4 TV stations:
  • RTS, Ozyory
  • RTS, Stupino
  • RTS, Kolomna
  • RTS, Serpukhov

See also

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Notes

23. . FSUE "Russian Television and Radio Broadcasting Network" (July 4, 2016). - News. Retrieved July 4, 2016.

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An excerpt characterizing the Russian television and radio broadcasting network

Smiling contentedly, Caraffa literally “dragged” me by the hand along the long corridor until we finally stopped at a heavy door decorated with patterned gold. He turned the handle and... Oh, gods!!!.. I found myself in my favorite Venetian room, in our native family palazzo...
Looking around in shock, unable to recover from the “surprise” that had so unexpectedly struck, I calmed my racing heart, unable to breathe!.. Everything around me was spinning with thousands of memories, mercilessly plunging me into long-lived and already partially forgotten, wonderful years, then not yet ruined by the anger of a cruel man... who recreated for some reason here (!) today my dear, but long-lost, happy world... In this miraculously “resurrected” room, every personal dear to me was present thing, every little thing I love!.. Unable to take my eyes off all this sweet and so familiar surroundings, I was afraid to move, so as not to accidentally frighten off the wondrous vision...
– Do you like my surprise, Madonna? – Satisfied with the effect produced, asked Karaffa.
The most incredible thing was that this strange man completely sincerely did not understand what deep mental pain he caused me with his “surprise”!.. Seeing HERE (!!!) what was once the real “hearth” of my family happiness and peace, I wanted only one thing - to rush at this terrible “holy” Pope and strangle him in a mortal embrace until his terrifying black soul flies away from him forever... But instead of realizing what I so strongly wanted, I just tried to pull myself together , so that Caraffa would not hear how my voice was trembling, and said as calmly as possible:
- Excuse me, Your Holiness, can I stay here alone for a while?
- Well, of course, Isidora! These are now your chambers! Hope you like them.
Did he really not understand what he was doing?!.. Or, on the contrary, he knew perfectly well?.. And this was just the “fun” of his restless atrocity, which still could not find peace, inventing some new tortures for me? !.. Suddenly I was struck by a burning thought - what, in this case, happened to everything else?.. What happened to our wonderful home, which we all loved so much? What happened to the servants and servants, to all the people who lived there?!
“Can I ask Your Holiness what happened to our ancestral palace in Venice?” I whispered in a voice that had shrunk from excitement. – What happened to those who lived there?.. You didn’t throw people out into the street, I hope? They don’t have another home, Holiness!..
Karaffa winced with displeasure.
- For mercy, Isidora! Should you take care of them now?.. Your house, as you, of course, understand, has now become the property of our most holy church. And everything that was connected with him is no longer your concern!
– My house, like everything that is inside it, Your Holiness, after the death of my beloved husband, Girolamo, belongs to my daughter Anna while she is alive! – I exclaimed indignantly. – Or does the “holy” church no longer consider her a resident in this world?!
Everything was boiling inside me, although I perfectly understood that by getting angry, I was only complicating my already hopeless situation. But Caraffa’s unceremoniousness and impudence, I am sure, could not leave any normal person calm! Even when it was just about desecrated memories dear to his heart...
– As long as Anna is alive, she will be here, Madonna, and serve our beloved holy church! Well, if, unfortunately for her, she changes her mind, she, one way or another, will no longer need your wonderful home! – Karaffa hissed furiously. – Don’t overdo it in your zeal to find justice, Isidora! It can only harm you. My patience also has limits... And I sincerely do not advise you to cross them!..
Turning sharply, he disappeared through the door, without even saying goodbye or informing how long I could remain alone in my so unexpectedly resurrected past...
Time stopped... mercilessly throwing me, with the help of Caraffa’s sick fantasy, into my happy, cloudless days, not at all worrying that such an unexpected “reality” could simply stop my heart...
I sadly sank down on a chair by the familiar mirror, in which the beloved faces of my relatives were so often once reflected... And now, surrounded by dear ghosts, I sat all alone... Memories suffocated with the power of their beauty and deeply executed with bitter sadness our departed happiness...
Once upon a time (now it seemed like a very long time ago!) at this same huge mirror I combed my little Anna’s wonderful, silky hair every morning, playfully giving her her first children’s lessons at the “witch” school... In the same mirror, Girolamo’s eyes, burning with love, were reflected , affectionately hugging me by the shoulders... This mirror reflected thousands of carefully preserved, wondrous moments that now stirred my wounded, tormented soul to the very depths.
Here, nearby, on a small night table, stood a wonderful malachite box in which rested my magnificent jewelry, so generously once given to me by my kind husband, and which aroused the wild envy of the rich and capricious Venetians in those distant, bygone days... Only today this box was empty... Someone’s dirty, greedy hands managed to “put away” everything, the “shiny trinkets” stored there, appreciating only the monetary value of each individual thing... For me, it was my memory, These were the days of my pure happiness: the evening of my wedding... the birth of Anna... some of my long-forgotten victories or events of our life together, each of which was celebrated with a new work of art, the right to which only I had the right... These were not just “stones” that were expensive, it was the care of my Girolamo, his desire to make me smile, and his admiration for my beauty, which he was so sincerely and deeply proud of, and loved so honestly and passionately... And so. Now these pure memories were touched by someone’s lustful, greedy fingers, on which, cowering, our desecrated love wept bitterly...
In this strange “resurrected” room, my favorite books lay everywhere, and the good old piano sadly waited alone by the window... On the silk bedspread of the wide bed, Anna’s first doll, who was now almost the same age as her unfortunate one, smiled cheerfully, persecuted mistress... Only the doll, unlike Anna, did not know sadness, and the evil man was not able to hurt her...
I growled from unbearable pain, like a dying animal, ready for its last deadly leap... Memories burned out the soul, remaining so wonderfully real and alive that it seemed that right now the door would open and the smiling Girolamo would begin right from the doorway with passion to tell latest news of the bygone day... Or cheerful Anna will rush in like a whirlwind, pouring an armful of roses onto my lap, saturated with the smell of a wonderful, warm Italian summer...
This was OUR happy world, which could not, should not have been within the walls of the Caraffa castle!.. It could not have a place in this den of lies, violence and death...
But no matter how indignant I was in my soul, I had to somehow pull myself together in order to calm my jumping-out heart, without succumbing to longing for the past. For memories, even the most beautiful ones, could easily end my already quite fragile life, not allowing me to end with Caraffa... Therefore, trying to somehow “protect” myself from the dear, but at the same time deeply wounding memory of the soul , I turned away and went out into the corridor... There was no one nearby. Apparently Caraffa was so confident in his victory that he didn’t even guard the door to my “chambers.” Or, on the contrary, he understood too well that there was no point in protecting me, since I could “leave” him at any moment I wanted, despite any efforts and prohibitions he made... One way or another - no stranger there was no presence, no security outside the door of “my” chambers.
Melancholy choked me, and I wanted to run without looking back, if only away from that wonderful ghostly world, where every memory that surfaced took a drop of my soul, leaving it empty, cold and lonely...
Gradually recovering from the “surprise” that had fallen so unexpectedly, I finally realized that for the first time I was walking alone along the wonderfully painted corridor, almost not noticing the incredible luxury and wealth of the Caraffa palace. Before that, having only had the opportunity to go down to the basement, or accompany Caraffa to some meetings that only interested him, now I looked in surprise at the amazing walls and ceilings, completely covered with paintings and gilding, which seemed to have no end. It was not the Vatican, nor the official Papal residence. It was just Caraffa's personal palace, but it was in no way inferior in beauty and luxury to the Vatican itself. Once upon a time, I remember, when Caraffa was not yet the “most holy” Pope and was only an ardent fighter against the “spreading heresy,” his house was more like a huge fortress of an ascetic who truly gave his life for his “just cause,” no matter how it was not absurd or terrible for others. Now he was the richest man, “tasting” (with the pleasure of a gourmet!) his limitless strength and power... who too quickly exchanged the lifestyle of a true “monk” for the easy gold of the Vatican. He still firmly believed in the rightness of the Inquisition and human fires, only now they were mixed with a thirst for the enjoyment of life and a wild desire for immortality... which no gold in the world (to everyone’s happiness!) could buy him.
Caraffa suffered... His temporarily lasting, bright “youth”, once gifted by the strange “guest” Meteora, suddenly began to leave very quickly, causing his body to age much faster than it would have been if he had not tried the deceptive “ present"...
Just recently, fit, slender and youthful, the cardinal suddenly began to turn into a stooped, drooping old man.... A whole “bunch” of his personal doctors panicked!.. They honestly racked their brains, trying to understand what kind of “terrible” thing he was. is the disease devouring their beloved “holiness”?.. But there was no answer to this. And Caraffa was still aging “acceleratedly” before his eyes... This infuriated him, forcing him to do the stupidest things, hoping to stop the fleeing time, which with each new day, in transparent grains, mercilessly flowed through his aging, but still very beautiful, thin fingers. ..
This man had everything... His power and authority extended to all Christian kingdoms. Lords and kings obeyed him. The princess kissed his hand... And with all that, his only earthly life was approaching sunset. And the thought that he was helpless to change anything drove him into despair!

Karaffa was an extremely strong and strong-willed person. But his will could not return him to his youth... He was well educated and smart. But his mind did not allow him to prolong the so wildly desired, but already quietly leaving him, precious life... And with all this, wanting and not getting what he wanted, Caraffa understood perfectly well - I knew HOW it was possible to give him what he was ready to pay the most expensive price in the world... I knew HOW it was possible to prolong his elusive life. And the “saint” Pope was infuriated to the point of madness by the fact that he also knew perfectly well that he would never get what he wanted from me. A wild thirst to live overpowered any of his human feelings, if any had ever arisen in him... Now he was just a man “sick” with one single idea, eliminating any obstacles that came across on the way to his great, but hardly feasible goals... Caraffa became an obsessive who was ready to do anything to fulfill his greatest desire - to live a very long time, no matter what the cost...
And I was afraid... Every day, expecting that his restless anger would fall on my poor father instead of me, or even worse, on little Anna. Father was still in the basements of Caraffa, who kept him there, not letting him out, but not torturing him either, as if he was waiting for something. And this was worse than the worst reality, since the sick fantasy of the “holy” Pope (in my sad experience!) had no boundaries, and it was completely impossible to predict what awaited us next...
Anna, for now, was in relative safety, among peace and quiet, surrounded by knowledge, and guarded by pure kind people... And she could remain there until the unpredictable Holy Pope claimed her.
Deeply lost in my gloomy thoughts, I stopped at the wide open window...
The weather was unusually pleasant - soft, sunny and warm. It smelled of awakening earth and jasmine. The real spring was beginning... In the courtyard of the castle, enlivening the grayness of its gloomy high walls, a fluffy carpet was spread with lush young grass, on which here and there timid forget-me-nots opened their blue eyes... Sparrows darted across the roofs, “drunk” from the spring air . The world was waking up, widely opening its warm, affectionate embrace to happiness... And only here, in captivity of a terrible, cruel man, was death invariably hovering... I did not want to believe that on such a bright, joyful day, in the terrifying Papal cellars, people were suffering and people were dying! Life was too valuable and beautiful for it to be so easily taken away by the wave of someone’s “holy” hand.
-What are you doing here, Madonna Isidora? Or do you not like your chambers? – Caraffa, who appeared silently, interrupted my sad thoughts. “I asked you not to leave your rooms.” I think they are spacious enough for one person?
Dad was unhappy. He understood perfectly well that it wouldn’t cost me anything to just pick up and “leave” if only I wanted to. And my “conditional” imprisonment infuriated him, not allowing him to have complete control over my soul.
- So what are you looking for, Isidora? – Caraffa said in a softer tone.
- Nothing, Your Holiness. It's just easier to breathe here. Memories, you know, are not always pleasant... Even the most precious ones...
“Would you like to have dinner with me, Madonna?” IN lately I really miss pleasant company... - Suddenly changing the topic, the Pope said in a secular voice.