Knock on wood

Chapter 1

Boa Sorte district in Brazil

We visit the state of Rio de Janeiro where one district in the town of Cantagalo is considered so lucky that it’s called Boa Sorte (“good luck” in Portuguese). We find out if it rings true to its name.

Chapter 2

Feng shui and urban planning

The idea behind feng shui is to harmonise everyone with the surrounding environment but how do we do that in our modern cities? We discover how to apply the ancient Chinese philosophy to our homes.

Chapter 3

Author Holly Bailey on the unlucky tornado town of Moore, Oklahoma

Luck and fortune begin where control ends and there are few things we have less control over than the weather. The city of Moore is unluckier than most as it has been hit by 10 tornadoes between 1998 and 2015. Holly Bailey, author of “The Mercy of the Sky” speaks about extreme weather and urbanism in Oklahoma.

Chapter 4

Spinning on the bull in Milan’s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele

Superstitions in Catholic Italy are known to run deep and if confronted Italians of all ages will admit to following at least one of the many rituals locals use to ward off bad luck. In Milan, one curious practice involves a local landmark and the tradition has even been taken up by visitors in need of a bit of good fortune.