Last Days in Sicily, between Art and Sea: a Staircase to Dreams
hive-163772·@alecaltab·
0.000 HBDLast Days in Sicily, between Art and Sea: a Staircase to Dreams
<img src="https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/alecaltab/EqSVUMMrKBsY3BRmdB6RicCWporhZscCBbkq8S1QNrZECWAakkrer4gBrpJpAZYpxig.jpg" alt="$1"> ------------------------- ------------------------- **Ciao, people of HIVE!** We have reached the <strong>final chapter</strong> of my trip to <strong>Sicily</strong>. Before leaving the island, I visited a few other cities and towns. In <strong>Mazara del Vallo</strong>, I injured my foot while playing football. In <strong>Porto Empedocle</strong>, I met an old friend. In <strong>San Leone</strong>, at night, I watched fireworks and danced on the beach. For some reason, I no longer have any photos from these moments. However, in the Agrigento area, there are two interesting things I must tell you about: the <strong>Scala dei Turchi</strong>, a beautiful white cliff by the sea, and the <strong>Farm Cultural Park</strong> in Favara, a very unique art gallery and residence for artists. I will put them together in this same article, in a sort of <strong>indirect comparison</strong> between the <strong>beauty of a natural place</strong> and the <strong>wonder arising from human creative expression</strong>. <img src="https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/alecaltab/EqQN86P42uJRLH3zSgiShr6qnBf2JbLKhNPNBmgFisXujAzRr8FdFsmTGeoYqFbFhEK.jpg" alt="$1">  <img src="https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/alecaltab/23wqs6WpY7tN42tRqtSvyAHmAQMuzNkCe36pegdvy4AWJtTogYTCGJopMMWZfg1J1u8m2.JPG" alt="$1"> <em>Murals at the entrance of the Farm Cultural Park.</em> ---------------------------------------- ##### Scala dei Turchi ---------------------------------------- The <em>Scala dei Turchi</em> (<strong>Staircase of the Turks</strong>) is a very unique white cliff because, when viewed from the side, it resembles a stepped staircase. The origin of its name is linked to the troubled history of the island: it is believed that <strong>Saracen pirates</strong>, when landing on the island, would leave their ships in these waters because they were well sheltered. The reference to "Turks" shouldn't be taken in a literal sense, since, in the medieval period, <strong>pirates coming from the East were generally referred to as Turks</strong> – moreover, their exact origin was almost impossible to determine; they were simply enemies appearing from nowhere, landing and raiding the territory. So, if you are Turkish, please don't be upset or offended 😁 <img src="https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/alecaltab/245cYhoKiF1a1rdseBk7sBZr3n7un6ePBzKdAAhDFo6L9KVKLjVQGhWH2urVsb5CcQyuN.jpg" alt="$1"> Nowadays, the <em>Scala dei Turchi</em> has become a <strong>popular tourist destination</strong>, not only due to its beauty but also because it is mentioned in the famous TV series <strong>Il Commissario Montalbano</strong> (<em>The Inspector Montalbano</em>), based on the novels by <strong>Andrea Camilleri</strong>. In fact, the story takes place in <strong>Vigata</strong>, an imaginary town that can be identified with Porto Empedocle. It’s a very beautiful and picturesque place to visit, especially for the cliff, its bright white color and <strong>its shape resembling a staircase that sinks into the sea</strong>. <img src="https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/alecaltab/244y1dU71LKZNzqwz3tcwq8BA4GV9XU9PDUmHZnM82z7r8vKdpbA9LyjBXa2hShsKp7mq.jpg" alt="$1"> <strong>Getting there is fairly easy</strong>, just driving from Agrigento or the close towns, even though I remember having some trouble with <strong>parking</strong> – then again, I was there <strong>in the middle of August</strong>, when tourism in Italy is at its peak. I have no idea what it's like in the other seasons, or what changes may have occurred since the time of my visit. Another note: the photos I took of the <em>Scala dei Turchi</em> unfortunately aren't of great quality because I took them with my phone, which was quite inexpensive – I'm not a big fan of technology. <strong>I usually work with a Canon 750D, but I thought it was wise not to bring it to the beach</strong>. <img src="https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/alecaltab/EpJXCTeQ53vouZ2HDJdTnKWNSzpkY1AXGkciXtPYhJGsXnyVPJt2oMxyrDgaEXHaGR3.jpg" alt="$1"> <img src="https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/alecaltab/EonkvRA4uNTVNFhV2StZ5cbBS2WoDbfiSsRx5PG9zjfjp1ydULy6EcTorg4cNe2KVRR.jpg" alt="$1"> <img src="https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/alecaltab/23x17JiAJMDS9p5zeRAh1fWKLX3NvQjutZVDGrKqgjF55yjeU4zhCuoGE1tfvV7Lso3Zm.jpg" alt="$1"> <img src="https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/alecaltab/EpzzCUAcWXmH2i1P3eyQBW18ive9SH4vXmZMGKvmx9y1cY3kJXjq1HA5JWwWd8ykW1z.jpg" alt="$1"> ----- ---- --------------------------- ##### The town of Favara --------------------------- When I left Agrigento, driving north to return to Palermo, I passed through <strong>Favara</strong>. Like many other places on the island, its name <strong>comes from the Arabic <em>fawwāra</em></strong>, a testament to the significant marks left by Arab culture. It became very important after the Norman conquest, having a large castle, but in the last few centuries, it underwent a <strong>gradual process of depopulation</strong> that continued until very recently.   *The Mother Church - Madonna Assunta, the cathedral of Favara.* ----------------------------- <strong>To stop depopulation and revitalize Favara's historic center</strong>, a husband-and-wife artist duo founded the <strong>Farm Cultural Park</strong> in a nearly abandoned neighborhood. Established in 2010 as an <strong>art gallery and residence for traveling artists</strong>, the park has grown over the years and successfully made Favara a more attractive destination for both residents and tourists. It is now <strong>the second most visited tourist spot in the province of Agrigento</strong> – after the Valley of the Temples! ------------------------ ##### Farm Cultural Park ------------------------ As mentioned, this place is not just a museum, but <strong>also a cultural and tourist center where temporary art exhibitions and permanent contemporary art installations are set up</strong>. It also offers artist residencies, book presentations and various architecture courses. The project was <strong>inspired by three main locations</strong>: the Palais de Tokyo in Paris, the square in Marrakech, Morocco, and the Camden Town market in London. The British blog <em>Purple Travel</em> ranked the Farm Cultural Park and Favara <strong>sixth in the world as a contemporary art tourism destination</strong>, following Florence, Paris, Bilbao, the Greek Islands, and New York. Of course, we were eager to visit it. Getting there was easy; <strong>it's very close to the <em>Chiesa Madre</em></strong> I showed you in previous photos, and <strong>you can walk there in just a few minutes</strong>.  <em>The entrance to the Farm Cultural Park.</em>   ---------- Note: I seem to remember that the entrance fee was 6 euros at the time of my visit (August 2018), but <strong>it should now be 10 euros</strong>. However, from what I read online while researching for this article, it was free to enter until 2017. Also, considering these photos were taken almost seven years ago, <strong>it's possible that some things have changed</strong>. I wouldn't know, as I’ve never returned since then. For example, I read on the Internet that <strong>the place was somewhat affected by the pandemic</strong>, especially between 2020 and 2021.       At one point during the visit, I saw something I never would have expected. It looked like a <strong>small pet cemetery</strong>, possibly specifically for cats. It was something both <strong>fascinating and macabre at the same time</strong>, maybe even provocative, as art can sometimes be.    Not far away, there were also some <strong>sweet cats deeply asleep, seemingly cuddled up together</strong>. But these weren’t part of the museum; it was more of a stroke of luck.    <strong>Music</strong> also plays an important role in this context. I appreciated how many of the artistic attractions were aimed at <strong>generating new sensations or stimulating creative behaviors, no matter how bizarre or unusual they might have been</strong>. I saw it as <strong>a challenge to rigid thinking, social conventions and the habit of taking ourselves too seriously.</strong>  <em><strong>"To proceed in dance steps".</strong></em>   As an Italian, <em>suca</em> is <strong>the last word I'd expect to see written at the bottom of a swimming pool</strong>. It's quite <strong>vulgar</strong> in slang, even though in this context it has a certain <strong>ironic touch</strong>. I won’t explain its meaning here, but it's pretty similar to English... otherwise you can Google it, you'll find it easily 😁      Overall, it was a pleasant experience, <strong>in a place that contrasts completely with the anonymous and somehow abandoned village surrounding it</strong>. Entering the Farm Cultural Park feels like <strong>stepping into a surreal, nonsensical dream; and when you leave, it almost feels like you haven’t truly experienced it, struggling to recall the details</strong> since it is so abstract. Precisely for this reason, it offers <strong>endless opportunities for reflection, ideas and feelings</strong> – depending on your imagination, listening skills and empathy. <strong>Just as a white rock staircase brings us higher to make us able to see the top, so does art elevate our thoughts and perceptions, like a staircase that leads to our very own dreams.</strong> ----------------------- ##### Sardinia, here we come again! ----------------------- This was the last adventure of my story about Sicily. Once back in Palermo, just like on the way there, <strong>I took the ferry to return to Sardinia</strong>. I’ll leave you with images of the <strong>port of Cagliari</strong>, taken the following morning, as I arrived on the island.      ---------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- <strong>Which place did you prefer, the Scala dei Turchi or Farm Cultural Park? Did you like this post?</strong> <strong>Feel free to share your experience, or any similar one, or an emotion that my article has stirred in your heart.</strong> For now, as always, <strong>thank you</strong> for your time, your attention and your support! See you soon on the road, <center> *<strong>Alessandro</strong>* </center> -------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------- [//]:# ([//]:# (!worldmappin 37.29028 lat 13.47302 long d3scr))
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