The word Solstice comes from the Latin “Solis statio” which means stopping of the Sun, therefore the Summer Solstice is the day in which the sun reaches the maximum distance from the equator.
The Sun and the symbol of fire are at the center of all the religions of ancient civilizations and represent the positive divinities, opposed to the dark and evil ones. Astronomers and priests, therefore, at the dawn
of civilization, identify themselves.
It is not surprising that during the Summer Solstice bonfires, dances and circles of men and women are organized, this is because the days from June 20th to 22nd represent a magical period.
The Summer Solstice therefore marks the official beginning of summer and is the longest day of the year where the sun reaches its maximum height in the sky, we are talking about the Tropic of Cancer, which is located at about 23.5 degrees north latitude. Beyond this latitude, during the solstice, the Sun does not set completely and short nights often occur.
Here are 7 places to go in Sicily during the Summer Solstice:
- Paternò (CT), inside the Dongione or Norman Tower you can admire how the environment becomes a sundial, useful for determining an agro-pastoral calendar in the territory of the county of Paternò during the reign of Frederick II of Swabia in 1221.
- Motta d’Affermo (ME), at the Pyramid of the 38th parallel the monumental sculpture by Mauro Staccioli (2010) where every 2 years the Rite of Light is celebrated with music, songs and rituals of thanksgiving to nature. If you also want to participate, don’t forget the dress code, all total white!
- Archaeological site of the Valley of the Temples (AG), where during the summer solstice, the sun sets right behind the magnificent Doric temples, creating a unique and evocative atmosphere.
- Ancient Theater of Taormina (ME): where during the summer solstice, the theater becomes the perfect stage for concerts and outdoor performances, illuminated by the golden light of the sunset against the backdrop of the imposing Etna volcano.
- Cefalù Beach (PA) offers an ideal place to welcome the summer solstice enjoying the sunrise on the horizon, painting the sky and the sea with warm shades.
- Megaliths of Argimusco (ME), is the only example of a megalithic site in Sicily. It is a Neolithic place of worship where life-death and archaeoastronomy rituals were once celebrated by studying the stars and the cycles of the seasons. A place full of energy and mystery, a sacred place composed of megalithic Dolmens such as that of: the Mother Goddess giving birth, the Eagle, or the Orante Goddess.
- Alia (PA) at the Grotta della Gurfa, where the sun penetrates from a hole at the top that, moving towards the floor, produces a “dematerializing effect” of the human figure that is placed underneath. This gives sensations of a strong anthropological value, a sort of Sacredness of light.
Discover the beauty of Sicily through these extraordinary locations and prepare to be enchanted.
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