You know it will be a good day when the first thing you see is a rainbow. On our last morning in Castellammare there was a rainbow over the harbor. Did we find that Pot o' Gold....well no, but it was a fun day....
Even though it was a two and a half hour drive from Castellammare to our next destination in Agrigento, we decided to detour to Mazara del Vallo in the southwest of Sicily to see the Dancing Satyr. A local fisherman pulled this Roman bronze statue from the sea in 1998, where it had resided since the second century. According to Ciccio the fisherman, the statue emerged from the sea face first, as if surfacing from a quick dip! Ciccio could have sold it and made a fortune, but he instead donated it to the city to go on display for all to see. The Satyr is beautifully displayed in a small museum in the Arab quarter of Mazara del Vallo, just steps from the sea. Here are photos of the entrance to the museum, and the tree-dominated piazza where it is located....
The larger than human size Dancing Satyr exudes movement, passion, even ecstasy. The eyes are original alabaster. There are pieces missing. but that doesn't detract from the overall presence of this amazing statue....
The Tunisian Arab quarter proved to be quite fascinating. Bordered by the Mazaro river, the Basilica cathedral, and the sea, the quarter has a real Kasbah feel. Here are some photos....
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| The Mazaro River |
After that great visit to Mazara del Vallo we set off for Agrigento and B&B Terrazze di Montelusa, where we had stayed twice before. Owner Francesco greeted us warmly and even gave us small apartment instead of a room. Very nice.....
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| Cheers!! |
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