Acieddu pensieroso

Exalted by the scenes of the film The Leopard (asmuchas the mafia from the film The Godfather), the Sicilian aristocracy has ancient origins and was imported by the Normans (XII century) with theirretinue of Kings, Queens and numerous court in tow. The Sicilianhistory, from the XII centuryonwards, is a history of division of power, temporal and religious, betweenpowerfularistocratic families. Conspiracy of silence, is the first pillar of Mafia power, wasborn from the subordination of the people to these families whohired the sameSicilians to keep the population under control. The hundreds of feudalcastlesthat can be found in the island, many of themnow in a state of abandonment, are the mirror of thisdivision of power, or rather of the land. Castleswerefollowed by palaces, more comfortable and betterplaced in the urbancontext. Sicily undoubtedlyhasone of the mostfascinating and architecturallyillustriouspatrimonies of villas and noblehouses, both residence and countryside. The splendor of themremainsunchanged over time: frescoed rooms, majolica, mullioned and three-light windows, prestigiousfurniture, beautiful gardens … indeedbring the visitor to the Sicily of the Leopard.

(photo) The Leopard, kolossal movie, 1963