LEGENDS AND CURIOSITIES
The myth of Aci and Galatea
Statue representing the legend of Aci and Galatea, at the public garden of Acireale
Among Sicily’s oldest and most romantic legends is the tale of Aci and Galatea, told by the Roman poet Ovid in his Metamorphoses.
If you’ve ever explored the area around Catania, you may have noticed something curious, eight towns whose names begin with “Aci”: Aci Castello, Aci Trezza, Aci Sant’Antonio, Aci Platani, Aci Catena, Aci San Filippo, Aci Bonaccorsi, and Acireale.
Some of them, like Aci Castello, Aci Trezza, and Acireale, are beloved by visitors for their stunning sea views and elegant Baroque architecture.
But why do they all share the name “Aci”?
The answer lies in a myth of love, jealousy, and transformation.
Galatea was a beautiful sea nymph who lived along the Sicilian coast. She fell deeply in love with a young shepherd named Aci.
Their happiness, however, was shattered by the jealousy of the giant Polyphemus, who killed Aci in a fit of rage, leaving Galatea heartbroken.
Moved by her sorrow, the gods transformed Aci into a river, so that his waters could flow into the sea and be reunited with Galatea forever.
According to legend, that river still runs beneath the towns that bear his name, and its waters are said to be Aci himself.
The legend of the Moor’s head
Walking through Sicily, you may have noticed decorative ceramic pots shaped like the heads of a man and a woman. These striking objects tell a dramatic story of love, betrayal, and revenge.
Around the year 1000 AD, Palermo was a multicultural city where Christians, Muslims, Jews, and Greeks lived peacefully together.
A beautiful young woman spent her days tending plants on her balcony. One day, a handsome Moor saw her and instantly fell in love. He declared his feelings, and she, flattered and moved by his passion, returned his love.
Their romance was intense, but short-lived. The woman discovered that the Moor planned to leave her and return to the East, where his wife and two children were waiting. Betrayed and humiliated, she took revenge: one night, she killed him in his sleep and cut off his head.
She turned his head into a flowerpot, planted basil inside, and placed it on her balcony. The basil grew lush and fragrant, attracting admiration from neighbors, who began making similar ceramic head pots.
And so, the “Teste di Moro” became a lasting symbol of Sicilian tradition.
The legend of Colapesce
Above, you can see a lamp post in Piazza Università, Catania, one of four artistic lanterns that depict local legends. This one tells the story of Colapesce, the boy who holds Sicily up.
Colapesce, also known as Colafish, was a gifted swimmer who could stay underwater like a real fish. His unusual talent made him famous, and soon his story reached Emperor Frederick II.
Curious to test him, the Emperor met Colapesce and threw a goblet, a crown, and a ring into the sea, challenging him to retrieve them. Colapesce accepted and dove deep into the water.
During his dive, he discovered something extraordinary: Sicily was resting on three giant columns beneath the sea, each located under Messina, Syracuse, and Palermo. One of them was cracked and close to collapse.
To save the island, Colapesce chose to stay underwater forever, using his own body to support the broken column.
Legend says he’s still there. And when the earth trembles, Sicilians smile. They know it’s not an earthquake, it’s just Colapesce shifting under the weight of Sicily.
The legend of Gammazita
Here above, you can see the lamp post in honor of Gammazita, located in Piazza Università in Catania. It’s one of four artistic lanterns that celebrate Sicilian legends.
This tale takes place in 1282, during the Sicilian Vespers, a popular uprising against French rule.
Gammazita was a beautiful and virtuous young woman from Catania. One day, while doing laundry at a well, she was approached by a French soldier. When she rejected him, he turned violent and tried to violate Gammazita.
Finding no way out of him, she preferred to throw herself into the nearby well rather than being dishonored by the soldier.
Her death became the spark that ignited the rebellion. The Sicilian people rose up, and with help from Spanish troops, they defeated the French oppressors.
Today, not far from Ursino Castle, you can still find Gammazita’s well. Legend says the water sometimes turns red. People know those red drops are traces of Gammazita’s blood.
