Audio tour 1. Ethno-anthropological Itinerary “Land and wheat”

Central Sicily is a vast territory which includes the areas of Agrigento, Caltanissetta and Enna.

Since  ancient times the landscape has been characterised by the seasonal colours of wheat, which has been the main source of wealth for centuries.
The importance of agriculture in this area is demonstrated by the ancient cult of Demeter and her daughter Kore-Persephone who, according to myth, was abducted by Hades where Pergusa lake (near Enna) is located today. Demeter and her young daughter Kore have a dedicated section at the Regional Archaeology Museum of Aidone, near the archaeological site of Morgantina.   

Through this itinerary we would like to guide you in discovering ancient farmsteads in the Nature Reserve of Monte Capodarso and Valle dell’Imera and the by-gone life of farmers through the exhibitions set up in some of the seven house museums of Montedoro and the Ethnographic Museum of Palazzo Cigno in Sommatino.

Finally, if you are looking for excellent culinary experiences from this area we invite you to try Caltanisetta’s  artisan bread, which comes in different shapes (ciabbatti, gaddruzzi, mafaldi). In particular, we recommend the bread and cookies made in rural Santa Rita village, where you can visit the Wheat and Bread Ephemeral Micromuseum.

Translated from the original Italian by Agnese Tomasella, MLitt in Museum Studies and Museum consultant for Rete Museale Culturale e Ambientale  del Centro Sicilia (The Central Sicily Museums, Culture and Nature Network)

This audio guide is part of the project Sicilia Beni Culturali for izi.TRAVEL coordinated by Elisa Bonacini, University of Catania