Description of the attraction
Scicli is a city in the province of Ragusa in the southeastern part of Sicily. It is located 308 km from Palermo and 25 km from the provincial capital of Ragusa. Together with seven other cities of the Val di Noto region, it is included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List.
The first people on the territory of modern Shikli appeared in the Copper Age, and permanent settlements date back to the Early Bronze Age (from 3000 BC to 1500 BC). The city itself was founded around 300 BC. sikulami - probably from here the name Shikli comes from. In the Middle Ages, Scicli, like the rest of Sicily, was ruled by the Arabs - the city flourished as an agricultural and commercial center, and then, in 1091, was conquered by the Normans under the leadership of Roger I. In 1282, Scicli was one of the settlements that participated in the infamous Sicilian Vespers and those who rebelled against the rule of the Anjou dynasty.
After the devastating earthquake of 1693, much of the city was rebuilt in the "Sicilian Baroque" style, which gave Scicli its current elegant appearance, which attracts numerous tourists. Among the city's main attractions are the Church of San Matteo, which stands on the hill of the same name in the old part of the city, the Church of Santa Maria la Nova with a huge neoclassical façade and a statue of Madonna della Pieta made of cypress, and the Church of Saint Ignatius, which houses a particularly revered icon of Madonna dei Milici. The attention of tourists is invariably attracted by Palazzo Fava - one of the first and largest baroque palaces in the city. Particularly noteworthy are the late Baroque decorations of the main portal and balconies. Other buildings that boast the splendor of the unique "Sicilian Baroque" style are the Town Hall, Palazzo Spadaro and Palazzo Beneventano.
Scicli often becomes a film set for various films: for example, the director Marco Bellocchio recently worked here, filming "The Wedding Planner". In addition, the city is famous for its religious celebrations, especially the "Adoration of the Child Jesus", which takes place on Christmas Day in the caves surrounding Scicli. Called Chiarafura, these caves were carved into volcanic cliffs and were inhabited until the mid-20th century.
On Easter, Scicli celebrates the Uomo Vivo parade, which includes a long procession that runs through the city. In March, horse riders in costumes set out from Scicli to the neighboring town of Donnalucata. The most picturesque sight is the religious festival in honor of Madonna dei Milici, celebrated in May. It is held in memory of the apparition of the Virgin Mary astride a white horse with a saber in hand. It was this phenomenon that inspired Norman Christians to slay the Saracens in 1091.
Finally, Scicli is famous for the many greenhouses in its vicinity, which cultivate primizi - fresh fruits exported throughout Italy.
