SCICLI
Scicli is a most lovely city in the province of
Ragusa, lying on a vast valley amidst rocky mountains, where the San
Bartolomeo, the Santa Maria La Nuova and the Fiumara di Modica rivers join. Its
18th century look most resulted from the reconstruction that
followed the terrible earthquake of 1693. Thanks to its elegant palazzi and
churches, and its picturesque shape, it is famously known as the “Baroque
Jewel”.
HISTORY
Scicli has remote origins, even partly unknown.
Sciclis is likely to have been its earliest name, at the time of the
Sikels – considered to be on of the most ancient Sicilian peoples. They settled
in what is now called the San Matteo hill; a necropolis there is still
clearly visible, as well as the ruins of an ancient castle and of a triangular
tower, likely served to guard against assaults of Greeks. Greek, Roman and
Carthaginian’s relics have been discovered at the area.
Scicli was one of the 72 Roman città
decumane (that is, liable for tax).
Roman specimens, mainly consisting of pavements, have been brought to light
near the mouth of the Irminio river. Called Sikia during the Arab rule,
the city, as well as the other Saracen dominions, enjoyed a period of
extraordinary growth and development, that was notably emphasized by Arab historian
Edrisi.
Several occupations were to follow: the
Normans, who established the feudal system; the Swabian, under whom Scicli
maintained its autonomy of city-state; the French Anjou and the Spanish Aragon,
under whom Scicli was assimilated into the County of Modica, ruled successively
by the Mosca, Chiaramonte, Cabrera and Henriquez dynasties. In 1693, a terrible
earthquake almost razed Scicli to ground. In 1860, a plebiscite proclaimed it a
city of the newly born Kingdom of Italy.
ECONOMY
Thanks to its fertile and flat grounds, Scicli
is mainly an agricultural city. The intensive production is largely focused on
hothouse and early fruit cultivations, Scicli being a major producer in Sicily.
Most of its industrial businesses are involved in processing agricultural
products. The outputs of oil, wheat, wine, citrus-fruit, carob derivatives and,
of recent, flowers are highly remarkarble.
TOUR
The tour of the town can start in the central
Piazza Italia, where, admidst a number of 18th century buildings,
rise the churches of the Madonna delle Milizie and Sant’Ignazio,
both ornamented with precious stuccoes and paintings. The Chiesa di San
Bartolomeo, few distant, dating from the 15th century, houses a
wooden nativity, later restored, dated 1573. The Santuario della Madonna
delle Milizie, about 1.5 km off town, near the coast, is a fine specimen of
the Arab and Norman epochs. Palazzo Beneventano is one of the most
impressive baroque monuments in the entire province. Other interesting
monuments are the 1386’s Monastery of the Carmelite Fathers, the 15th
century church of Santa Maria La Nuova, in a neo-classic style, San
Matteo and Santa Croce. The Via Mormino Penna, lined with amazing
palazzi, churches and monuments, provides with an unforgettable baroque picture.
Here stand the Palazzo Comunale (Town Hall), the Palazzo Spadaro
and the churches of San Giovanni, San Michele and Santa Teresa.
Some religious events are particularly awaited in town: the Cavalcata di San
Giuseppe, on 19th March, is a charming procession on horseback
throughout the streets of the town, that are all illuminated by fires. The Holy
Family on horses adorned with flowers, leads the procession. Another
worth-seeing event is the Uomo Vivo (the living man) or Festa del
Gioia, celebrated on Easter’s Day. The statue of the Resurrected Christ is
carried shoulder-high by a group of worshippers in triumph across the streets
of the town.