Bianca a Palazzolese

The Sicilian shawl represents a real icon of our popular costume. Simple in its usually triangular shape, the shawl also recalls the divine triad of Catholicism. Its use, in fact, is particularly linked to religious ceremonies, giving off a strong votive nature. But, above all, here in Sicily the shawl was the symbol of amorous seal. A shawl was the gift that the mother-in-law brought on the day of the official engagement, at least until the first half of the last century. A shawl whose material it was made of was at the same time a symbol of economic position. There were woolen shawls, crocheted, and the richer the weave and the thinner the cotton, the more valuable it was.

Palazzolo Acreide is a Sicilian town located in the eastern part of the island, inside the green lung of the Iblei mountains. It has extraordinary cultural evidences, among which the ruins of the ancient greek-roman city of Akrai (with theater) and beautiful Baroque buildings of the seventeenth century.

(photo) Akrai, Jean Houel engraving, XVIII century