La Cyclops Riviera it is a fascinating land line, which goes from Aci Castello to Acireale. Clear waters e forms marked by the action ofEtna, whose lava flows have in fact deeply marked this coast. To be able to visit and discover it, you need to go north of Catania. Rocky beaches, crystal clear waters and, for those wishing to fully immerse themselves in the culture of the place, various myths and legends.
Riviera dei Ciclopi, why this name
A decidedly particular name, which derives from a Homeric legend. The Riviera dei Ciclopi, or coast, is characterized by imposing black rocks. According to the myth, these would have been launched by the famous cyclops Polyphemus. All this would have happened during the escape of Odysseus, which he knew as Nobody. The man, at the center of the Odyssey narratives, managed to blind him and escape certain death.
The giant therefore tried with this throwing of stones to stop him and kill him, while the other Cyclops asked him who had blinded him, to which he replied: "Nobody, it was Nobody". The archipelago is part of the Cyclops Islands Marine Protected Area. A place of great naturalistic value, both for the basalt rock formations and for its spectacular seabed, as well as for the rich flora and fauna.
Aci Castello
La Fortress of Aci Castello is one of the symbolic places of Sicily. A cliff of volcanic origin supports this manor, which rises like a fortress on the Ionian Sea. Its destinations have varied over the years, becoming over time a prison and, later, a civic museum. When we talk about Aci Castello we always refer to the fortress above all for the legends that revolve around it. The best known is that of imprisoned hunter.
It is said that one day a man accidentally killed a magpie belonging to the governor of the castle, a particularly cruel character. The result was an imprisonment for 13 years. Everything changed, however, when the Grand Duke of Massa arrived. In his honor the hunter sang a song from his cell. This fascinated the noble, who ordered his release, after hearing the sad story.
The former caretaker, now deceased, recently told of having glimpsed it ghosts of some ancient warriors in the rooms of the fortress. Similar testimonies were later also provided by some municipal employees. The two would hear heartbreaking moans and the screeching of chains in the late evening, which prompted them to flee.
Aci Trezza
It is a fishing village founded in the 600s, located in front of the archipelago of the islands of the Cyclops. Several myths related to the eastern side of Etna. The Latin poet Claudiano places the fall on the land of the Giants, who attempted the ascent to Olympus. The exact location would be the Wood of Aci, characterized by oaks and chestnuts, which in past centuries extended for over 30 square km. A place shaped several times by the lava flows of Etna, which have shaped its appearance, pushing to increase the popularity of myths.
Acireale
In addition to what Homer told, there are other myths relating to this part of Sicily. Just think of Xiphonia. The love story between a nymph was set in this city, Galatea, and a little shepherd named Aci, killed out of jealousy by the Cyclops Polyphemus. Legend has it that Jupiter, merciful, transformed it into a river, called Aci, so as to reunite it with his beloved.
