Myth and legend of the Labyrinth of Ariadne, one of the 11 works of Fiumara d'Arte, an open-air museum in the heart of Sicily: how to get there.
A large coral-colored snake that wraps around itself like an infinite spiral at the center of which the precious tree of life stands guarded. This is theAriadne's labyrinth, one of the 11 works that are part ofRiver of Art, the open-air museum conceived by the patron Antonio Presti and scattered around Tusa, in the heart of theSicily.
Located in the small municipality of Castel di Lucio, not far from the Nebrodi Mountains, the land art work of Ariadne's Labyrinth was created in 1990 by the Mantuan artistItalo Lanfredini. It is one of the most loved contemporary monuments of the Fiumara d'Arte, as well as among the most visited every year.
The myth and legend of Ariadne's Labyrinth
The myth of Ariadne's Labyrinth is among the most bewitching that have been handed down to us from ancientGreece. Everything originates from the figure ofMinotaur, a creature with the appearance of half man and half bull born from the union of Pasiphae - wife of King Minos - and a white bull. Ferocious and aggressive, the Minotaur ate only human flesh and lived enclosed in theKnossos labyrinth.
When Minos, to avenge the killing of his son Androgeus, defeated the Athenians forcing them to pay an annual tribute of seven girls and seven boys to be sacrificed in the Labyrinth.Theseus, son of the king of Athens, rose up and decided to go to the palace of Knossos to kill the monster.
Arriving at the court, Theseus metArianna, daughter of King Minos, who fell in love with the young man at first sight. To save him from being lost in the Labyrinth, Ariadne gave Theseus a thread of wool. Once the Minotaur was defeated, the beloved would have to do nothing but rewind the thread and go back to the exit. So it was. Theseus killed the Minotaur by breaking his neck and, thanks to thethread of Ariadne, he was saved.
Entrance and path of Ariadne's Labyrinth
Ariadne's LabyrinthSicilyit looks like a concentric spiral which can be accessed through a high and narrow passage that has the shape of an ogive. Inside this long coral-colored snake there are no crossroads or bifurcations, and getting lost is impossible.
Going through Ariadne's Labyrinth, surrounded by the silence of a hill that really seems to be lost, gives a pleasant sensation of peace. In this place that she knows of harmony you never have the fear of getting lost, on the contrary, the more you walk and the more the desire to discover what is hidden at the center of the spiral grows.
And what could be hidden in the heart of a path that is both internal and external if not thetree of Life? In the center of Ariadne's Labyrinth grows aolive, the plant that has the ability to resist all troubles and live for millennia.
Hours and prices for the Ariadne's Labyrinth of Sicily
Entrance to Ariadne's Labyrinth is free and free. The work is always open and accessible.
How to get to the Labyrinth of Ariadne of Sicily
Ariadne's Labyrinth is located atCastle of Lucius, a Nebroid municipality in the province ofMessina. The closest airport is Palermo "Falcone e Borsellino" and the only way to reach the town is by car:
- From Messina: 161 km via the A20 with exit at Santo Stefano di Camastra.
- From Palermo: 119 km via A20 with exit aCefalu.
The other works of the Fiumara d'Arte
The works of the Fiumara d'Arte, an open-air museum designed by the patron Antonio Presti, are 11 in all and are located along the banks of the Tusa river, in the municipality of the same name. Among these the best known are the Labyrinth of Ariadne, the38th parallel – Pyramid(in Motta d'Affermo), Monument for a dead poet oWindow on the sea(at Villa Margi) and theWorkshop by the sea(at Tusa).
The others – in order of creation – are: Matter could not exist, A curve thrown behind time, Mediterranean energy, Arethusa, Domestic museum and The Wall of Life.
Verónica Crocitti
