Argimusco ... Sicily's Stonehenge

Stonehenge is one of the most famous landmarks in the United Kingdom and is regarded as a British cultural icon.

The site and its surroundings were added to UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites in 1986. It is a prehistoric site and consists of a ring of megalith standing stones set within a complex of Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments. Archaeologists believe it was constructed from 3000 BC to 2000 BC. Stonehenge is steeped in folklore, myths and legends including that of King Arthur.

The Prehistoric site has long been studied for its possible connections with ancient astronomy. The site is aligned in the direction of the sunrise of the summer solstice and the sunset of the winter solstice.

Some theories claim that Stonehenge was constructed as part of a fertility cult.

Stonehenge is a very much loved tourist attraction BUT have you ever heard of Sicily's Stonehenge?

Also have you ever wondered where the Sicilians head after the high tourist season when the summer crowds have gone?

This year due to Covid19 we have been unable to go home to Sicily but we are lucky to have amazing friends who have kept Sicily alive in our hearts by sending us lots of photos.

Last month my lovely friend Isabella sent me some photos of a fun day trip and picnic she had gone on with her family.

Isabella is one of Taormina's most experienced and long established wedding planners and her husband Tony is the owner of the Time Out Pub, a must visit for when you are in Taormina.

In Autumn Sicilians love to head for the countryside and mountains and there is nothing they love more than to pack a large picnic. Can you imagine the food?

Isabella and her family headed for a popular destination located between the Nebrodi Mountains and the Pelortani Mountains just north of Mount Etna ... Argimusco, also known as Sicily's Stonehenge.

Sicily is well known for its rich and unique history but what is not so well known is that before the age of antiquity and the rise of the Greek and Phoenician settlements on the island there were three indigenous groups, the Elymi in the western part of the island, the Sicani in the centre and the Sicels in the east. The later being the root of the islands name.

Standing towards the sky Argimusco is a high plateau and offers a wide 360° panoramic view of Mount Etna, the Aeolian Islands and the surrounding countryside and sparkling Tyrrhenian sea. It is the most fascinating rocky complex in Sicily and according to geologists and astronomers it is thought to be some kind of natural prehistoric calendar used to measure the cycle of the seasons.

The site is formed by giant natural rocks and monoliths that rise from the ground that are millions of years old and are characterized by particular forms of rare beauty. It is thought that the formations have been created by the atmosphere, mainly wind and rain erosion, however some say that they are man made in order to represent the star constellations.

No official archaeological excavation has ever been carried out on the plateau but findings such as ceramics, utensils and human bones in the surrounding areas show that the site may date back to the Bronze Age and might have been used as a sanctuary where sacred rituals and cults were held that were linked to deities of the Earth and also of Heaven.

A number of the megaliths are made of quartz arenite and consist of menhirs (standing stones) and dolmens (megalithic tombs). Amongst the megaliths stand two large Phallic shaped elongated boulders thought to represent the male and the female which are supposedly symbols of virility and femininity. Another megalith has the appearance of an eagle and is marked with a symbol of the sun that would have once been worshipped as an ancient god.

Argimusco is called "The Mirror of the Stars" and it is thought to be arranged to mimic the pattern of the star constellations and the site has been categorized as being geometrically significant. It has drawn many occult practitioners throughout the centuries. Here there are ten stones which represent the constellations present in the summer sky.

The ten stones coincide with the ten summer constellations consisting of the swan, arrow, eagle, snake, ophiuchus, the virgin, leo, crow, hydra and crater and they are placed in the same constellation order. The summer constellations are the constellations that are best seen in the evening night sky from late June to late September in the northern hemisphere.

The eagle is one of the most fascinating megaliths which is shaped like a bird of prey with wings half spread and with its head facing south. The eagle in hermetic symbolism was known as a privileged being that was thought to connect earth with heaven and was also known as the symbol of the soul of the dead. In the background of the eagle stands the beautiful peak of Mount Nettuno that probably acted as an indicator for both the summer and winter solstice.

There are also other rocks that resemble a pelican and an owl and also one that resembles a vessel that would have been used in ancient alchemy. Another rock looks like the profile of a young man and it appears that his face is turning up to the sun.

One of the most notable rocks is the one of 'Virgo' (The Virgin), a mysterious figure twenty six meters high which seems to have her hands clasped together in prayer and appears to be staged at the centre of the "Mirror of the Stars", maybe because the sun rises in Virgo at summer solstice.

Whether the site is the work of nature or that of man, a site for sacred rites or astronomical observation, it boasts a magical and mystical atmosphere and is an amazing place to visit especially at sunset.

After exploring and discovering Agrimusco, Isabella and her family had worked up an appetite and were ready for their lunch and so headed to nearby 'Bosco di Malabotta' which boasts great picnic facilities.

Bosco di Malabotta is a lush area of 3200 hectares and is one of Sicily's oldest and very few intact natural forests. The beauty of the forest (bosco) was enhanced with brilliant autumn colours created by an abundance of flora and fauna.

The forest is made up of centuries old oak trees, locally called "the wises of the woods", as well as beeches, birches and a large expanse of pine trees. The area boasts a lot of wildlife with the most admired being the peregrine falcon.

After their picnic in the forest the family group moved on to the beautiful medieval village of Montalbano Elicona.

Montalbano Elicona is located more than 907 metres above sea level with views of the rocks of Agrimusco in the distance. There are two possible meanings to the villages name, "Mons Albanus" which means white mount referring to the surrounding mountains which are covered in snow in winter or perhaps from the Arabic word "al-bana" which translates as excellent place and Montalbano Elicona really is an excellent place so much so that it was awarded the prestigious title of "Borghi più Belli di Italia" (Italy's most beautiful village) in 2015.

The town boasts a medieval castle and narrow warren like lanes that beckon to be explored creating a fairy tale atmosphere. The castle which overlooks the town was originally a fortress that was built during the Swabian/Aragonese domination of Sicily. In 1300 Frederick II of Aragon made it into a royal summer residence adorned with beautiful decorations and exotic treasures.

Agrimusco, Bosco do Malabotta, Montalbano Elicona and the surrounding mountain ranges of the Pelortani and Nebrodi are a perfect alternative destination on your trip to Sicily to grab some fresh mountain air and become at one with nature. Here you can walk or hike with a guide, go mountain biking and it is also the perfect terrain for horse riding.

For an exciting adventure you can also go on a Truffle Experience walking and hunting with a trained dog (not Daisy 😜) and its owner looking for the precious Nebrodi black truffle.

Or how about driving around the winding mountain roads in a Porsche?

For an amazing getaway a stay in a Agriturismo makes a great mountain retreat.

Please feel free to ask for my recommendations.

I would like to say a BIG thank you to Isabella and her family for sharing their amazing adventure and photos with me and we look forward to seeing them in 2021.

Check out Isabella's website at https://www.weddinginsicily.co.uk/

If you enjoyed this Blog post then you might enjoy this one from my archive ↓

"Mount Etna and the Legend of King Arthur" https://whitealmond-privatesicily.blogspot.com/2019/01/mount-etna-legend-of-king-arthur.html

NEW CHRISTMAS POSTS COMING SOON

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(Photo credits Isabella Randazzo)