Sicily: Between History & Legend
THE MYSTERIOUS TRINARCRIA
The symbol of Sicily. The Trinacria (or 3 legged) symbol of Sicily has existed for over 3000 years, and his origin and history is still shrouded in mistery and legends. For ancient peoples, inhabitants, colonizers, pilgrims, men of culture, explorers, Sicily was famous as "Island of the Sun", a fascinating, exotic, fruitful, bright and lucky land. The originary Trinacria, symbol of Sicily, is composed of the head of Medusa Gorgonia, whose hairs were serpents, and from which radiate the three legs bent at the knee. The Gorgon is a mythological figure who, according to the Greek poet Hesiod (VIII - early VII century B.C.), was each of the three daughters of Ceto and Phorcys, two gods of the sea: Medusa (the Gorgon for excellence), Stheno ("strong") and Euryale ("the large").
They had boar tusks, hands of bronze, golden wings, snakes on the head and in waist, lived at the Hesperides (daughters of Atlas, they lived in the Isle of the Blessed, in the westernmost part of the world) and were able, with a glance, to petrify men. The ears of wheat are the symbol of the fertility of the land. The three legs represent the three promontories of Sicily - cape Pelorus (or tip of Faro, Messina: North-East), cape Passero (Syracuse: South), cape Lilibeo (or cape Boeo, Marsala: West) - whose arrangement is made explicit in the Greek word triskeles and is linked to the geographic meaning: treis (three) and akra (capes): from which, also in Latin, triquetra (three peaks).
14,000 YEARS OF HUMAN HISTORY
The unique beauty of Sicily is encountered in the delicious combination that exists today of Italian, Spanish, French, and Arab food, art, music, language, & architecture. Sicily is a magical weave of the shards of ancient history, and the bustle of modern culture.
The oldest human traces found on the island is dated to 12.000 BC about. Around 750 BC, Sicily became a Greek colony and in the next 600 years it was the main battlefield of the wars greek-Punic and Roman-Punic, which ended with the destruction of Carthage by Rome. After the fall of the Roman Empire, many peoples have arrived and left the Sicily, leaving evidence of many different cultures, both in architecture and in costumes: Vandals, Ostrogoths, Byzantines, Arabs and Normans.
Desired for its warm weather, abundant food, as well as its location between Europe, Africa and the Middle East, Sicily has been fought over for thousands of years. With Normans was born the Kingdom of Sicily. After the Normans was the time of the crown of Aragon in Spain, then the Holy Roman Empire and, finally, the Bourbons (later Kingdom of the Two Sicilies).
Sicily joined the rest of Italy in 1860 but a subsequent economic collapse has caused a wave of emigration, separatism and the emergence of the Mafia. Even before the birth of the Italian Republic in 1946, Sicily was granted the special status of autonomous region with its own parliament.
The symbol of Sicily. The Trinacria (or 3 legged) symbol of Sicily has existed for over 3000 years, and his origin and history is still shrouded in mistery and legends. For ancient peoples, inhabitants, colonizers, pilgrims, men of culture, explorers, Sicily was famous as "Island of the Sun", a fascinating, exotic, fruitful, bright and lucky land. The originary Trinacria, symbol of Sicily, is composed of the head of Medusa Gorgonia, whose hairs were serpents, and from which radiate the three legs bent at the knee. The Gorgon is a mythological figure who, according to the Greek poet Hesiod (VIII - early VII century B.C.), was each of the three daughters of Ceto and Phorcys, two gods of the sea: Medusa (the Gorgon for excellence), Stheno ("strong") and Euryale ("the large").
They had boar tusks, hands of bronze, golden wings, snakes on the head and in waist, lived at the Hesperides (daughters of Atlas, they lived in the Isle of the Blessed, in the westernmost part of the world) and were able, with a glance, to petrify men. The ears of wheat are the symbol of the fertility of the land. The three legs represent the three promontories of Sicily - cape Pelorus (or tip of Faro, Messina: North-East), cape Passero (Syracuse: South), cape Lilibeo (or cape Boeo, Marsala: West) - whose arrangement is made explicit in the Greek word triskeles and is linked to the geographic meaning: treis (three) and akra (capes): from which, also in Latin, triquetra (three peaks).
14,000 YEARS OF HUMAN HISTORY
The unique beauty of Sicily is encountered in the delicious combination that exists today of Italian, Spanish, French, and Arab food, art, music, language, & architecture. Sicily is a magical weave of the shards of ancient history, and the bustle of modern culture.
The oldest human traces found on the island is dated to 12.000 BC about. Around 750 BC, Sicily became a Greek colony and in the next 600 years it was the main battlefield of the wars greek-Punic and Roman-Punic, which ended with the destruction of Carthage by Rome. After the fall of the Roman Empire, many peoples have arrived and left the Sicily, leaving evidence of many different cultures, both in architecture and in costumes: Vandals, Ostrogoths, Byzantines, Arabs and Normans.
Desired for its warm weather, abundant food, as well as its location between Europe, Africa and the Middle East, Sicily has been fought over for thousands of years. With Normans was born the Kingdom of Sicily. After the Normans was the time of the crown of Aragon in Spain, then the Holy Roman Empire and, finally, the Bourbons (later Kingdom of the Two Sicilies).
Sicily joined the rest of Italy in 1860 but a subsequent economic collapse has caused a wave of emigration, separatism and the emergence of the Mafia. Even before the birth of the Italian Republic in 1946, Sicily was granted the special status of autonomous region with its own parliament.
MODERN TOURISM
Although in recent years, tourism has increased in Sicily, western Sicily remained a territory in which tourism has developed in a sustainable manner and without compromising the charm of virgin nature. The tour guide books are lacking in information, and, for this, you can explore and discover this natural paradise, simply asking around, with a spirit of adventure and by word of mouth. I am happy to be your personal guide into this enchanting culture. The Gulf of Castellammare includes the coastline stretching from Terrasini, through Balestrate, along the golden sandy beach of Alcamo Marina, until you get to the rocky coves near Scopello, the “Zingaro” natural reserve and San Vito Lo Capo. HIDDEN BEACHES & HOT SPRINGS In addition to the most famous places to visit, there are also many many hidden beaches to explore and enjoy in absolute tranquility, including the acoustic massage of waves caressing the shore, the psychedelic changing colors of the sea and the nature, and the unmistakable feeling of salt on the skin under the strong rays of the sun. In the rural area of the territory of Alcamo, you can come across the source of thermal water (about 40 ° C in all the seasons) with healing powers both for the skin and for rheumatic problems. These are free natural springs surrounded by free nature. Lighted at night, only by the stars and the moon. Some of these places are frequented for centuries by people, of different civilizations, who have lived in these places. |
ENCOUNTER CONTEMPORARY MYSTICISM These places are full of history and legends. It is possible to come across territories, around western Sicily, where are abandoned ruins of the past. Remains of old houses and castles emerge on the ground in many areas, both near the thermal waters than elsewhere. TWO EXAMPLES: 1) The top of Mount Bonifato is another territory full of magic, mysticism, history, tales. 2) The village of Erice is named after the Greek hero Eryx. There are two castles that remain in the city: Pepoli Castle, which dates from Saracen times, and the Venus Castle, dating from the Norman period, built on top of the ancient Temple of Venus, where Venus Ericina was worshipped. It is said that when fog enshrouds the town that it is being covered by the veils of Venus. Book me as your Guide to the magic, history & mysticism of Sicily. |